Life is kind of like shaving.

I’ve been thinking a lot about shaving since I’ve been living at Snaggy Mountain Farm. There is a lot of hair here, one of the stereotypes that I suppose comes with living naturally. I’ve shaved my body hair pretty regularly for most of my life, but I decided to try an experiment, a sort of “When in Rome” thing, to see what it would be like to have hairy armpits and legs and feel a little more like a part of the community. I also just haven’t really felt like it and there hasn’t been a need (although there never really is a need).

I let my hair grow for about a month until I shaved my armpits. It was getting annoying and I just felt like shaving it. Not for anyone else – I just wanted smooth armpits. I started shaving one leg, but it was too much effort. Plus, I thought maybe the hair would keep my legs a little warmer in the cold weather.

And then I wondered if anyone here would judge me for shaving. Because I’m conforming to oppressive beauty standards, etc etc. It’s funny, because in mainstream society, I wouldn’t be judged for shaving. I’d be judged for not shaving.

You just can’t win!!

This makes me think of all the web articles I’ve seen lately telling my generation what we’re supposed to be doing, like 20 Things You Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Do In Your 20s and 20 Things Every Woman Should Do In Her Twenties. I get it. We’re evolving, and new societal expectations are slowly breaking through the old ones…but they’re still societal expectations, telling us to do something regardless of what it is. I’m skeptical of anything that dictates what I need to or should do, even though I’m doing some of these things like travelling solo and moving away from home (but not because the internet told me to!). Just as I don’t want people telling me I should “settle down,” I wouldn’t tell someone who is that they need to go travel or shame them for wanting something different.

On the flip side, not everyone understands or supports what I’m doing. It’s still pretty unconventional. I mean, I’m unemployed and basically living out of my car, which isn’t exactly revered in our society. I’m sure a lot of people think I’m crazy. And, of course, my grandmother still asks my family on the regular when I’m getting married. (She also still thinks I’m working at the same job I left 6 months ago, and still living in Sarasota with my cat.)

There’s a sort of double standard going on: you’re supposed to “sew your wild oats” and see the world, but you’re also supposed to make a lot of money, get a “real” job (whatever that means), buy a nice house, get married, and have kids.

Here’s the thing: it doesn’t matter if you shave or you don’t shave. It doesn’t matter if you’re a world traveler or a stay-at-home mom. All that matters is that you’re doing what feels right for you, not what someone else says you should do.

The number one thing all twentysomethings need to do?

WHATEVER YOU WANT.

Have fun y’all!