The New 27 Club

The 27 Club is a pop culture concept mythologizing the deaths of musicians. Its most famous members would be Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, most recently would be Amy Winehouse and of course, Kurt Cobain. Some may argue that these are coincidental, but the chilling fact is that these music legends died the same age — 27.

I’m no music legend and I can never know exactly what these geniuses went through. What I know is the pressure being 27 brings.

It’s my fault, of course. I set life goals and gave myself a deadline. So the idea of turning 27 became a ticking bomb. I turned 27 last August but I did not die. Rather, panic exploded inside me.

Maybe this is what 27 truly feels like — clinging to the coolness of youth but feeling too old for some shit. 27 is like crossing the bridge to adulthood, like a second coming of age. Some may have given up, jumped off the bridge and entered The 27 Club. But some of us choose to brave the journey a little more and survive.

Where do survivors go? To The New 27 Club.

27 Rules of The New 27 Club:

1. Don’t panic.
2. Accept that people are different.
3. You can only control yourself.
4. Learn when to let go.
5. Prioritize peace.
6. Bluntness and honesty are not the same thing. There is always a better, less hurtful way to tell the truth.
7. It does not hurt to give compliments when people do something right.
8. But when people do something wrong, there is a respectful way to point it out.
9. Work relationships are as important as the work.
10. Credit comes to those who collaborate.
11. Everyone’s lives are equally interesting.
12. Be sensitive to other people as you are to yourself.
13. When you feel like talking, try to listen.
14. People will always find something wrong about you. The ones who truly matter are the ones who can tell it straight to your face.
15. “If you worry too much about what other people think, you’re worrying about the wrong people.” – Leigh Reyes
16. There will be times you will feel irritated, make sure it is worth your time.
17. Younger people can be arrogant but it doesn’t give you the right to dismiss them. Listen to to them and the arrogance wears off.
18. Our parents taught us to read books, let’s teach them the internet.
19. Looking good takes effort. Don’t be lazy.
20. Drink to relax, not to get drunk.
21. Sleep so you don’t get weak.
22. Make time for family and friends.
23. Facebook’s “Hide” button is an underrated feature.
24. Sincerity over coolness.
25. If you can do it in 2 minutes, do it now.
26. Overthinking results to overreacting.
27. Consume less, create more.

For me, turning 27 is what you make it to be. The pressure will always be there but we can always transform it into something productive and meaningful. 27 is start of gracefully growing up.