The New 20!

As I face down the last days of my 29th year I find myself - excited!

Accomplishments, I’ve had a few… In fact it seems almost impossible that so much has happened in 10 years. The gap between 19 and 29 isn’t near as large as the one between 9 and 19, (remember that one!) but making a mark on the world presents it’s own little set of challenges.

Turning 25 was a tough year. I felt like the world was doing back flips and I was standing still. In this era of super stardom it was hard to know where to stand at 25. For me it was the year I realized I wouldn’t be the best anything ever, and learned how to except it so I could find some peace. I would come to find out that I wasn’t the only one who was feeling the pressure to reach an over the top success. A lot of us were feeling unable to find a foot hold in a world where Britney Spears was maximizing her earning potential at 19, and dot com billionaires were retiring at the same age we were and still trying to figure out what we wanted to do with our lives. Having a birthday was enough to put me in black and carry around a box of tissues. I felt mocked by my age, another year older, another year further from a goal I couldn’t define.

Then a brilliant thing happened. I turned 26…

You can package wisdom, and perspective in a wonderful cover and sell it in every self-help aisle from here to the moon, but until you face that you know what you want and probably know how to get it and at least give it a try, you’ll always wonder why you’re not…, instead of why you are…

I guess every age has it’s own set of dilemmas and worries. As I become older I hope I always remember how out of touch I felt at 25 and that when I hear someone struggling I’ll temper a hopeful response with both wisdom and sympathy.

And about turning 30… I’m not worried. I hear it’s the new 20!

Recommended Reading:
Gospel: A Novel by Wilton Barnhardt