Why I’m Still Figuring This Out
Okay, look. I’m 47 years old. I’ve been a senior editor at some decent publications. I’ve lived in three countries. I should have this adulting thing figured out, right? Wrong. So, so wrong.
It was last Tuesday, actually. I was at this coffee shop on 5th, the one with the terrible WiFi but great pastries. I was meeting my friend, let’s call her Marcus, because honestly, I can’t remember her real name right now. (It’s coming back to me… Lisa? No, that’s not it. Never mind.)
Anyway, Marcus—Lisa?—she’s got her life together. Like, really together. She’s got a Pinterest-worthy apartment, a thriving career, and she actually enjoys meal prepping. Me? I burn toast. And I mean, literally. Last week, I set off the fire alarm trying to make avocado toast. (Which, by the way, is overrated. But that’s a rant for another day.)
So there I was, sipping my overpriced oat milk latte, listening to Marcus—Lisa?—talk about her latest home improvement project. She was all excited about some new room divider she found on roomdivider.net. I nodded along, pretending I knew what she was talking about. But honestly, my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about how my living room looks like a college dorm explosion. And how I still haven’t figured out how to fold a fitted sheet.
My Commitment to Self-Improvement
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of those people who thinks adulting is all about having a perfectly organized closet or knowing how to fold a fitted sheet. (Though, seriously, how do people do that?) I’m talking about the bigger stuff. The stuff that makes life… well, livable.
About three months ago, I decided I was gonna make some changes. I was gonna get my life together. I was gonna be one of those people who has a budget and sticks to it. Who plans meals and actually eats the food they buy. Who doesn’t have to do laundry at 11:30pm on a Sunday because they ran out of clean underwear.
And you know what? It’s been a disaster. A beautiful, messy, glorious disaster.
I started with meal planning. I thought, “Hey, this is gonna be easy. I’ll just find some healthy recipes meal planning online and follow them.” Spoiler alert: It was not easy. I spent 36 hours—yes, I timed it—trying to figure out what to make for dinner. I ended up ordering pizza. Again.
Anecdote About My Friend Dave
I told my colleague, Dave, about my meal planning fails. He laughed. “You’re such a disaster,” he said. “But that’s why we love you.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing. Even though I’m not great at this adulting thing, I’m trying. And that’s what matters, right? I mean, I’m not gonna win any awards for my perfectly organized pantry or my succsesfully meal prepped lunches. But I’m learning. And that’s something.
My Tangent About Home Organization
Speaking of learning, let me tell you about my latest acquisition—well, aquisition—of a bookshelf. I thought, “This is it. This is gonna be the game-changer.” I spent an entire Saturday assembling it. (Which, by the way, the instructions were in Chinese. Or maybe it was Swedish. Point is, it was not English.)
The bookshelf is now in my living room, looking all proud and organized. But here’s the thing: It’s empty. Because I haven’t figured out how to organize my books yet. And honestly, I’m not sure I ever will. But hey, at least it looks nice.
Why I’m Not Gonna Give Up
So, here I am. 47 years old, still figuring out how to adult. And you know what? I’m okay with that. Because life isn’t about being perfect. It’s about trying. It’s about laughing at your mistakes. It’s about ordering pizza when you burn your toast.
And it’s about knowing that it’s okay to not have it all together. Because honestly, who does? (Except for Marcus. Lisa. Whatever her name is.)
So, if you’re out there, feeling like a failure because you can’t fold a fitted sheet or you burned your toast or you spent 36 hours trying to figure out what to make for dinner, know that you’re not alone. We’re all in this together. And it’s gonna be okay.
Probably.
About the Author
Sarah Jenkins is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the magazine industry. She’s written for major publications and has lived in three countries, but she still can’t fold a fitted sheet to save her life. When she’s not writing, she’s probably burning toast or trying to figure out how to organize her bookshelf.
