Writers 
DON’T WASTE YOUR YOUTH: WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR TIME?
There was a time when I thought growing older would automatically make me understand life.
I thought one day I would just wake up and know exactly what I wanted, where I was going and how everything would work out.
But the older I get, the more I realise that life doesn't really work that way.
Nobody hands you a manual.
You learn as you go.
And that is why I think youth is such an important season.
When we are young, we often feel like we have unlimited time.
“I will do it later.”
“There is still time.”
“I'll learn that skill next year.”
“I'll take my finances seriously when I start earning more.”
“I'll get closer to God when life becomes less busy.”
Before you know it, another year has passed.
This doesn't mean that you have to figure out your entire life at 20. You don't.
People have different journeys. Some people discover their purpose early. Others need more time. Some marry young, while others marry much later. Some build successful careers in their twenties, while others start again in their forties.
There is no single timetable for life.
But that doesn't mean we should waste the years we have.
So, what should we be doing with our youth?
In your late teens and early twenties, learn.
Try new things. Read. Ask questions. Learn a skill. Meet people. Volunteer. Discover what you enjoy and what you don't.
Learn how to communicate.
Learn how to manage money.
Learn how to take responsibility for your decisions.
Learn how to handle disappointment.
Most importantly, learn who you are.
You don't need to have everything figured out, but you should be moving.
Then comes a stage where you begin to build.
Maybe you're in your mid-twenties and you're starting to understand yourself better.
This can be a good time to take your goals more seriously.
Build your career.
Build your business.
Build healthy friendships.
Build good financial habits.
Build your character.
Build your relationship with God.
And please, don't let social media convince you that you're behind.
Someone may be travelling while you're studying.
Someone may be getting married while you're single.
Someone may be buying a house while you're still trying to pay your bills.
That doesn't automatically mean they are ahead of you.
You are living your own life, not competing in a group project.
As you grow older, life may begin to demand something different from you.
You may have more responsibilities.
People may depend on you.
Your career may become more serious.
At that point, you don't only need ambition. You need wisdom.
You begin to understand that not every opportunity is worth taking.
Not every friendship needs to continue.
Not every argument deserves your energy.
Not every decision needs to be rushed.
And you realise that success isn't just about having something to show people. It's also about becoming someone you respect.
But let's be clear about something.
Turning 30 does not mean your life is over.
If you're 30, 35, 40 or even older and you feel like you've wasted time, you are not finished.
You can learn again.
You can start again.
You can change direction.
You can discover something new.
The purpose of thinking about age and seasons isn't to create pressure.
It's to encourage us to stop postponing life.
So if you're young, enjoy your youth.
Laugh.
Make memories.
Make friends.
Have fun.
But don't let entertainment consume the years that could have helped prepare you for the future.
Learn something.
Save something.
Build something.
Pray.
Take care of your health.
Develop your mind.
Become useful.
And when you make mistakes, don't spend the rest of your life wishing you hadn't made them. Learn from them.
One day, you'll look back at this season.
You may not remember every ordinary day, but you'll probably remember what you chose to do with them.
So don't keep waiting for the “right time.”
The season you're in right now is also part of your life.
Use it.
Grow through it.
Enjoy it.
And make sure the older version of you has something to thank you for.
Your youth isn't a deadline. It's an opportunity. Don't waste it.
