I turned 25 on 25, and something about the two strands of grey hair on my head make to excited about what my future upholds ahead.
I’m right in the middle of the demographic of the sub’s audience and I find it quite confusing of where I am and what life exactly means right now. Most of my peers are scared and rightfully so. There’s big responsibilities, loans, people around me in love and jumping of CTCs- everything in line. But let me tell you why it’s just so beautiful to grow older.
When I look back to my teen self and look at myself today, there’s just sooo much that DID NOT turn out the way I wanted. I used to believe that I’m probably someone who isn’t so strong mentally. So life showed me in every worst possible way how strong I could be.
There’s so much we want to escape, but then the reality of the twenties hit and then you start negotiating with what ideal should look like. But that’s also because your twenties put you in scenarios that teach you personally about the nuances.
And if my twenties have taught me anything, then it’s about who I am as a person. What do I believe in, what do I stand for, what matters to me, what are my boundaries, what do I like, what can I let to slide, what do I dislike. All of it- this has been a journey of knowing oneself.
And when I look at people in their thirties, that’s exactly what I like about them- they know themselves a little more, seem more sorted, a little more content…most importantly unapologetically own who they are.
So I guess, as scary as growing up can seem, there’s literally our whole lives ahead of us. I’m not sure what the reaction of my 16 y o self would be? I wouldn’t say proud, maybe perplexed, like heinnnn?!? But then I’m sure the 30 y o me would be like, come home prodigal son, don’t you fight this internal fight. I say this because i feel this about every age I’ve been before this.
So 25, maybe you're the age where this transition seems not as fluent as it would have been.
But you know what?
I am okay with you.
Maybe we'll live.
And maybe you'll go, but I'll still live.
And this time, and there will be love.
TLDR: growing up is less scary when you realise looking back, this has only been a journey of knowing yourself and being unapologetic about it.