Age is a state of mind.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about getting old, or getting older I should say. Just today my brother is celebrating his 25th birthday – he’s now a quarter of a century old. I feel like the 20s are sort of an extension of growing up, sort of like a free-for-all, maybe a more independent and adventurous extension of the teenage years. But when you think of it in terms of quarter centuries and decades, it’s a bit daunting. Even still, many of my close friends will be turning 25 as well, others 24, myself included.

Mentally, I still feel as though I’m still that pimply-faced, awkward teenager roaming my high school campus still trying to figure out who I am and what I want to do with my life. Granted I have more responsibility (imagine that) and a greater sense of independence, but I still have a hard time picturing myself as a college graduate and member of 9 to 5 work club. I still cannot believe that I pay my own rent, have my own place, and am paying my own utilities, providing my own health insurance… And Lord knows what’s coming next.

But with BJ’s birthday today and the realization that my 25th is not too far off in the future, I’ve been feeling a little old, a little crotchety, a little like I might not have done everything I could’ve done with the first 25 years of my life. That is, until I met a bright eyed 15 year old girl while at lunch today. Lola and I went to Panera for some hot soup and to catch up some neglected reading. It was terribly crowded, like any soup and sandwich shop would be at 1:00P on a Sunday afternoon and as a result, many people were left searching for a place to sit. We had one empty chair so Lola asked a young girl to sit with us. Of course we got to talking and learned that she was just 15 and a sophomore in high school. She was amazed to hear we had already been to and graduated from college and was so envious of our experiences and independence. She made me feel as though I had seen the world, and was so impressed because I had lived so many places and had an internship in DC. Her energy and spirit of adventure was contagious and while I still have a huge list of things I want to do in my life, she made me proud of what I have already accomplished and excited for what is to come in the future. She made me feel young again, which is such a funny thing to say at 23. But my goodness! I’m only 23! There’s no reason why I should be moping. I can still be a rockstar, travel the world, and write a best-selling novel.