I read this a few days ago and found myself thinking about what you wrote over the weekend (good job!) The reason it stuck with me is because while I understand what this essay is getting at, some of us didn't have the luxury of simultaneously being in early-to-mid 20s while making a lot of money. For me personally, it was a mix of having no idea what I wanted to do with my life and then starting grad school, both of which kept me low on the obligation scale, but also fairly broke. For others it may have been difficulty finding a job, crippling debt, caregiver responsibilities, etc.
Currently in my mid 30s, I can definitely say that this "YPE" that you speak of is much more relatable now. Yes, I am married and yes I have a mortgage, but my husband and I are also "DINCs" living in Boulder. But what's troubling me is this feeling that based on what you've written, I missed some specific experience in my 20s and it's impossible for me to go back and re-do it. I have this nagging frustration that this article is so narrowly tailored to such a small set of people and those of us beyond this phase of life are screwed or missed out.
So perhaps the more interesting question is, how can we bring more YPE into our lives at any phase? Whether we're in our 30s, parenting in our 40s, climbing the corporate ladder, making a career pivot or adjusting to the next phase of life.....after all, isn't YPE just a state of mind and an attitude towards life?
It's impossible to change the past, so rather than harp on the fact that my 20s doesn't match the epic experience you write about, I'm much more interested in focusing on how to make sure I'm living deliberately and intentionally in the present.
thanks Meredith! I think it is both a state of mind and also a matter of the actions you take and the lifestyle that comes with that. I think it's totally possible to be DINCs (esp. in Boulder, awesome place) to be channeling a youthful, adventurous energy.
we can't change the past, but we can view our past experiences as lessons to be learned, and then apply those lessons in the present. there are some folks like Eckart Tolle that talk about how there is only the present moment, the past and the future doesn't actually exist - it's just our mind's understanding of those concepts. I myself often forget that, but am trying to keep that in mind
Dude this was great. Really thoughtful reflection and it really made me think. Those sound like some incredible times…
My story is basically flipped. I had some travel adventures 21-23,
then lived in LA for seven years, focused on Write of Passage (plus covid hit etc). Now at 32 I feel absolutely brimming with YPE, in the midst of several (productive) Big Adventures. I’m not a never-grow-up type, I want to get married and have kids, sooner than later. But I’m fully embracing it for now (writing this at 11:45pm from a bar/care in western China). I guess we’re all on different timelines for these things
In my seventh year of living in Santa Monica, I clearly remember seeing a post of yours about surfing in Lombok. The palm trees, hammocks etc. Something about it stopped me in my tracks, made me want to get back over to Asia, re-open that adventurous chapter. And today I just spent the day at a lake in China with a somewhat similar setup.
Anyways, I’ve always appreciated that nudge you inadvertently gave me via that post
yo thanks for reading man. I can tell you're firing on all cylinders with your posts about your full days in China and then staying up late to work on Act II. super cool to see you living at full speed (and I'm also in a similar chapter of life right now)
Love how you phrase things. Gonna need to start using YPE and borrow Memory Dividends and regret asymmetry.
It’s weird and comforting to see how parallel our experiences are. 28. Asian dude. Moving back to the suburbs (LA for me) after years of working in tech and chasing random adventures (being a monk in china, gap years, sabbaticals). Doing coaching. Reading one of your earlier essays also made me want to try jiu jitsu. But something about hyrox/crossfit seems to be calling at the moment.
woah, tons of similarities haha. hyrox is cool and I sometimes like watching fitness content about that, but at least right now I'm more keen on fitness stuff that's more communal and social. if I was in Austin or LA, actually training for hyrox might bring that social element given so many people do it as well
This is so relatable. There’s so many things I did in my 20s partially in ignorance that I wouldn’t make myself do now. I love suburbia and routine. That being said, living in a retirement city, I’ve come to appreciate how these seasons come back. I think part of it is young person energy. But I’m inspired too who stay healthy and seek adventure for their later chapters too.
thanks Michelle! yeah I think your last sentence is spot on - there's cycles to this too, and there's gonna be other times to seek adventure later on too.
I read this a few days ago and found myself thinking about what you wrote over the weekend (good job!) The reason it stuck with me is because while I understand what this essay is getting at, some of us didn't have the luxury of simultaneously being in early-to-mid 20s while making a lot of money. For me personally, it was a mix of having no idea what I wanted to do with my life and then starting grad school, both of which kept me low on the obligation scale, but also fairly broke. For others it may have been difficulty finding a job, crippling debt, caregiver responsibilities, etc.
Currently in my mid 30s, I can definitely say that this "YPE" that you speak of is much more relatable now. Yes, I am married and yes I have a mortgage, but my husband and I are also "DINCs" living in Boulder. But what's troubling me is this feeling that based on what you've written, I missed some specific experience in my 20s and it's impossible for me to go back and re-do it. I have this nagging frustration that this article is so narrowly tailored to such a small set of people and those of us beyond this phase of life are screwed or missed out.
So perhaps the more interesting question is, how can we bring more YPE into our lives at any phase? Whether we're in our 30s, parenting in our 40s, climbing the corporate ladder, making a career pivot or adjusting to the next phase of life.....after all, isn't YPE just a state of mind and an attitude towards life?
It's impossible to change the past, so rather than harp on the fact that my 20s doesn't match the epic experience you write about, I'm much more interested in focusing on how to make sure I'm living deliberately and intentionally in the present.
thanks Meredith! I think it is both a state of mind and also a matter of the actions you take and the lifestyle that comes with that. I think it's totally possible to be DINCs (esp. in Boulder, awesome place) to be channeling a youthful, adventurous energy.
we can't change the past, but we can view our past experiences as lessons to be learned, and then apply those lessons in the present. there are some folks like Eckart Tolle that talk about how there is only the present moment, the past and the future doesn't actually exist - it's just our mind's understanding of those concepts. I myself often forget that, but am trying to keep that in mind
Dude this was great. Really thoughtful reflection and it really made me think. Those sound like some incredible times…
My story is basically flipped. I had some travel adventures 21-23,
then lived in LA for seven years, focused on Write of Passage (plus covid hit etc). Now at 32 I feel absolutely brimming with YPE, in the midst of several (productive) Big Adventures. I’m not a never-grow-up type, I want to get married and have kids, sooner than later. But I’m fully embracing it for now (writing this at 11:45pm from a bar/care in western China). I guess we’re all on different timelines for these things
In my seventh year of living in Santa Monica, I clearly remember seeing a post of yours about surfing in Lombok. The palm trees, hammocks etc. Something about it stopped me in my tracks, made me want to get back over to Asia, re-open that adventurous chapter. And today I just spent the day at a lake in China with a somewhat similar setup.
Anyways, I’ve always appreciated that nudge you inadvertently gave me via that post
yo thanks for reading man. I can tell you're firing on all cylinders with your posts about your full days in China and then staying up late to work on Act II. super cool to see you living at full speed (and I'm also in a similar chapter of life right now)
Love how you phrase things. Gonna need to start using YPE and borrow Memory Dividends and regret asymmetry.
It’s weird and comforting to see how parallel our experiences are. 28. Asian dude. Moving back to the suburbs (LA for me) after years of working in tech and chasing random adventures (being a monk in china, gap years, sabbaticals). Doing coaching. Reading one of your earlier essays also made me want to try jiu jitsu. But something about hyrox/crossfit seems to be calling at the moment.
woah, tons of similarities haha. hyrox is cool and I sometimes like watching fitness content about that, but at least right now I'm more keen on fitness stuff that's more communal and social. if I was in Austin or LA, actually training for hyrox might bring that social element given so many people do it as well
Yeah totally feel you on that. Working out solo feels less appealing nowadays
This is so relatable. There’s so many things I did in my 20s partially in ignorance that I wouldn’t make myself do now. I love suburbia and routine. That being said, living in a retirement city, I’ve come to appreciate how these seasons come back. I think part of it is young person energy. But I’m inspired too who stay healthy and seek adventure for their later chapters too.
thanks Michelle! yeah I think your last sentence is spot on - there's cycles to this too, and there's gonna be other times to seek adventure later on too.
Thanks for this reminder to keep chasing YPEs forever!