The Myth of Being “Behind” (and Why So Many of Us Feel It)

There’s a specific kind of ache that settles in your chest when you look around and feel like everyone else got instructions for adulthood that you somehow missed. Maybe your friends are announcing promotions, engagements, babies, new homes — and you’re still trying to figure out what you actually want out of your life, or how to get unstuck without feeling like you’re endlessly starting over.