The Hard Pills of Adulthood
Growing up, I hated to take pills. I would either choke or accidentally bite and subject myself to that nasty taste that creeps into your mouth when bits of it disintegrate. As a result, I always opted for the easier option: syrup. But as I got older, I quickly realized all the “effective medications” came in pill form, so I had to quit taking the easy way out and learn how to swallow. Innuendo aside, this approach translates to how I navigate adulthood.
Now, before you roll your eyes and think this article will be a 500-word analysis on the hardships of adulting, it’s not. It will be a 900-word version (I’m joking)… keep reading.
I just think growing up, we weren’t fully prepared for the numerous pills we have to forcefully swallow in the name of growth, peace, happiness, and our personal definition of success. From the TikToks to Threads, we can all collectively agree that adulting isn’t what we signed up for. It’s messy, ghetto even, but on our journey to creating a life we don’t mind living 24/7, there are a few hard pills we have to swallow. I like to call these the hard pills of adulthood, and here are a few I’ve stocked in my imaginary medicine cabinet.
The Dose of Reality
When our parents used to grumble, “It’s always something…” I finally understand what they meant. The life I designed in my mind didn’t account for all the never-ending challenges, unprecedented events, mysterious villains, and surprise tests that would derail exactly how I thought it would look. No matter how you think plan A, F, or even Z will go, the outcome almost always looks different, and that’s just something you have to honestly accept.
For instance, if younger me saw me right now, she would probably be proud—but also a little disappointed. That little girl had some big dreams. And though I’m still working hard to achieve them, the road, highway, and even sidewalk have looked completely different from what I imagined.
The Shelf Life of Friendships
I’ll be honest, I’ve been blessed to have the same amazing women I grew up with still in my life, plus some gems I’ve met along the way. But now that I’m in my late twenties, it seems the shelf life of some friendships comes into question. And, I have to ask myself…do I refill my prescription or toss it in the bin?
Adult relationships take effort, money, planning, understanding, and a dose of emotional intelligence. I am in about five long-distance friendships right now, with some whom I haven’t seen for almost seven years. So that means saving and booking a flight to New York or the UK to spend some quality time or randomly Facetiming for a 4-month catch-up. Even those who are nothing more than a 10-minute drive away, I have to plan dates sometimes two months in advance. To keep valuable friendships, it takes being intentional because everyone is on their own path, which brings me to my third pill.
Overdosing on Other People’s Lives
They say comparison is the thief of joy, but I must add that social media is its accomplice. With just a tap, click, or scroll, you have access to a well-curated highlight reel of people’s lives. And when all you’re seeing is the new house they bought, how they're killing it in their career, their fairytale love life, or the million and one places they travelled, sometimes it’s hard not to let a little envy creep in. I have to be honest and say I am near overdosing on this pill and may need some rehab soon. I’m not where I want to be in life, and while I know social media is poisonous for me right now, I keep consuming it. Still, I remind myself that we’re all on our own unique timelines and everything will all work out as it should. At least that's what the sticky note on my mirror tells me daily.
Side Effects May Include Aging
Your body will betray you. As brutal as it sounds, it will. You can do all the skincare, and some random factor will cause a pimple to appear. You can be at your fittest, take all the vitamins, and still catch the flu. The older you get, the more you realize you have no choice but to stay active, take care of your skin, and get regular checkups, hoping that the betrayals don’t hit too deep.
The Bitter Reboot
Out of all, I think the hardest pill I’m still trying to swallow is that no matter how much you think you have grown and are on the path of success, something will cause you to have to push that factory reset button and try again. A devastating breakup? Therapy and a new healing journey. Realizing your dream job is a toxic wasteland? Time to find something new and recover from burnout.
Starting over is frustrating as hell, but it’s through those trials that you learn so much about yourself and pick up some unexpected survival skills. I can attest to this because in 2025, I had to push that button. Navigating the new deck of cards left me so emotional that I could build a swimming pool from all my tears. But through the emotional rollercoaster, I learnt so many beautiful things about myself.
At the end of the day, life will keep handing you pills—some bitter, some surprisingly sweet. The key is learning to swallow them, one by one, and realizing that each dose teaches you something about yourself. Growth isn’t linear, and the reset button isn’t a failure; it’s a chance to deal a new hand and play your best game of life.
Now I want to know what’s in your medicine cabinet? Which hard pills are you still learning to swallow?