How many things should we do before we die?

For bloggers in and around their 20s (or older), there is a lot of material about how we should be spending our malleable years. Some people believe it should be a hedonistic foray that leaves us broke, but happy, with a larger understanding of who we are and how the world works. Other “experts,” think we should be hitting the daily grind and building up assets, experience and ass-kissing skills. Regardless, whatever side of the spectrum you fall on (or me reasonably, lean toward), there are some staple articles that each source writes, but differ from one another.

One of the best 20-something advice pieces is the, “(insert number) things you should do before you turn (re-insert number).” Google the above phrase and a plethora of sources, experts, bloggers, authors and a-holes will all pop up to tell you what you are or aren't doing. While they all believe they have it all figured out, there is always another piece of media to devour that says something different. The trick is, finding the one that best fits who you are.

One of my favorite advice sites for kids in their quarter-life-crises is one known as Thought Catalog. While some of their content I highly disagree with, some of it is dead on. Recently a blogger named Stephanie Georgopulos wrote an article called “25 Things To Do Before You Turn 25.”  I, of course, read it while taking a good look at my own life, thinking it had the capacity to be groundbreaking. After reading it, though, I felt underwhelmed. I did agree with some of her list, like making amends with family, enjoying nature and quitting terrible jobs, but the list just didn't do it for me. It gave me guidance, but yet I was still not sold on her ideas.

While there are a number of places we can find “help,” from, I think the most important thing about reading these mediums is that we need to find something within ourselves. Until we learn what we want and what is necessary for US to grow, guidance and advice will only be white noise.

Photo courtesy of Boston