I turned 25 this past Friday. Twenty.Five. People kept wishing me a happy 25th birthday and I cringed every time. Don’t get me wrong, it was an awesome day filled with lovely people and celebration. However, for some reason 25 is a big, big number in my mind. I feel old. I’ve never felt old…until now. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m 5 years away from 30, or that I graduated from high school SEVEN YEARS ago (what?!), or that a quarter of my life is complete. (That’s assuming that I live to 100, God willing).
I read a quote recently by Abby Larson, the founder of Style Me Pretty, in which she shares the advice she would give her 23 year old self…
“Breathe, my friend. You are not old, you are young. You are not a mess, you are normal. Extraordinary, perhaps. In the blink of an eye your life will change. And it will continue to change for decades to come. Enjoy it, embrace it…be grateful for the ride. You are not old, you are young. And faith will get you everywhere. Just you wait.”
I keep hearing this from people: “In the blink of an eye, you’ll be 50!” Well thanks for the advice, but you’re honestly just making me afraid of blinking my eyes. I like the way Ms. Larson describes it. In the blink of an eye your life will change. Now, that I can attest to. Things can change so quickly, and time does not rest for the weary (sadly).
Now that I’m 25 years of age, I obviously know everything there is to know about life. I’m a fountain of wisdom and knowledge and insight.
Nope.
What’s absolutely great about getting older is this simple fact: I know nothing. The older I get the more I realize just how little I know, which is kind of ironic. I find that I’m becoming childlike in that I’m excited to to explore and anxious to discover. I’m ready and willing for the next “phase” of my life, but trying to remain peacefully right where God has me at this moment.
Who am I to worry about how “old” I am or how “young” I’m not? Life’s not about getting caught up in what’s already happened or worrying about what’s to come. It’s about embracing the gift of each and every moment. Recognizing everyday that we are blessed to be alive.
I’m 25. I’m young. I’m a work in progress. I have a lot to learn, a lot that I want to create, and a lot that I’m excited to discover. All this being said, I realize now that I’m not having a quarter life crisis. It’s more like a quarter life awakening.
…You are not old, you are young. Enjoy it, embrace it…be grateful for the ride…
