Being young is an issue of mind over matter
My parents like to remind me of the time in high school that I threw a fit and told them that they ruined my lives. I admit that I was a bit overdramatic as a teenager, but always being the “baby” is harder than it seems.
Today I turn 22. It’s the first time since I was 13 that I’m not wishing I was older. Skipping eighth grade meant that I was always a year (or more) younger than my friends, and was constantly trying to “prove” that I was fun despite also being a huge nerd. I spent most of high school wishing I was 16, so that I could drive. I spent my freshman year of college wishing I was 18, so that I could go to clubs. I spent the rest of college wishing I was 21, so that I could (legally) go to the bars (but as you can see from the picture above, I did manage to pull off an epic bar crawl for my fake ID’s birthday).
I spent the better part of being 21 acting as a grown-up, going to bed early, working full-time and drinking lots of water. And then I realized that youth is an issue of mind over matter, a question of priorities and outlook. Do I wish that I spent being 21 partying all night and wasting away hungover days? Not really. But the times I’ve acted “young and reckless” in the last year have led to some of my favorite memories: spur-of-the-moment paragliding, buying a ticket to Europe weeks after a breakup, a last-minute trip to my college town to indulge in one-dollar drinks with best friends the day before I left.
One thing I’ve learned is that age truly is just a state of mind. I know 20-somethings who are overworked, underpaid and “stuck” in unfulfilling jobs and relationships. Then I hear about middle-aged people who are daring to quit their jobs to live their dreams and travel the world.
“You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.”-Douglas MacArthur
So today, I’m going to act young. I’m going to have a few drinks, dance all night, sleep in instead of going to French class and indulge without thinking twice about the calories. I’m going to dream about where I’ll be at this time next year, without making plans, worrying about money or trying to be realistic. In short, I’m going to act like I’m 22–and I’m going to cross my fingers that I can remember that feeling and hold onto it for the rest of my life.
