Turning 25: An Age for Reflection

A quarter of a century. The atomic number for Manganese. The average lifespan of a polar bear.

What do all of these have in common? The big 2-5.

As a kid, I thought of any 25 year-old as an older adult. To me it was the age for marriage, business suits, high heels, and glasses.

Well, my eyesight is still 20/20, I own a business suit that hasn’t been worn in over a year, I almost never wear high heels, and I’m yet to find my future life partner.

It’s amazing how I can feel both 16 and 50 at 25.

Some mornings I drink chocolate milk instead of a cup o` joe or cuppa tea to get ready for the work week.

I now have a fondness for red wine, and white wine is growing on me, too.

I watched Wall-E alone the other night and cried into my pink Snuggie.

The next morning, I got up for work to attend my weekly team meeting via Zoom in rubber ducky pajama pants.

I don’t live at home, but I miss my mom frequently and would trade my roommates for her again.

I use a moisturizer for dry skin, yet I still occasionally get a pimple.

I play Animal Crossing and Death Stranding. I also play Black Jack, Checkers, and some 70s hits on an FM radio.

I have a car, but I often use it to drive to theme parks or to get ice cream.

I pay my taxes and I get hangovers, albeit from spiked strawberry lemonade with a rainbow unicorn on the can.

I watch viral videos. I also watch birds.

Finally, I do my own grocery shopping. I do my best to buy local and well-sourced proteins, grains, and greens… But I still ride the shopping carts like a scooter.

The one constant that I’ve held onto after all these years is that no matter how old I get, I will never take the world seriously… and I’m proud of that.

I am both a child and a woman, and I believe I have found peace through this balance.