12/16/2024
The age between 22 and 32 is often the most challenging time in a man’s life. The pressure to achieve something meaningful and establish yourself feels overwhelming. Everywhere you look, it seems like others are moving ahead, living the kind of life you can only dream of.
Job applications yield disappointing results, and this period becomes a struggle for many. If not handled carefully, the frustration can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol or drugs. The situation worsens when you see your peers securing jobs, adding to the sense of inadequacy.
Your social circle begins to shrink—not because others leave you, but because you start pulling away. Imagine sitting in a group where friends talk about their recent trips to Dubai and their plans for Victoria Falls while you’re unsure of how to afford your next meal. You listen in silence, feeling out of place and disconnected.
Over time, you realize you no longer fit in with this crowd. The weight of trying to achieve something becomes unbearable. When house party invitations come up, you act uninterested because hosting guests is beyond your means.
Conversations about the latest iPhone or the service of British Airways leave you feeling invisible, like a bystander. Someone might offer you another drink, and though you want to decline and head home, you hesitate—because home feels just as empty. So, you say, “Just one more,” knowing it’s not true.
You find yourself in a low-paying job at a private school, teaching basic lessons for 15k after spending 4-5 years earning a degree. Discussions about education feel pointless because survival has become your priority. Dating feels impossible—what can you offer someone’s daughter on a 15k income?
Yet, this difficult phase imparts invaluable lessons. It teaches perseverance, gratitude for small wins, and an understanding of life’s complexities—friendship, love, career, and responsibility. The choices you make during this time will shape your future in your 30s.
Though this phase is tough and often isolating, it’s not permanent. Hang in there—better days are ahead.