“You don’t act your age. You act older.”
I turned 22 on Wednesday. Oh, did I really? I don’t know. Did I even turn 21? Sure, I might have lived on this earth for 22 years, and that might make me 22, but am I really? I feel like I’m 18. I’ve felt like that for 4 years. I think I stopped aging. On the other hand, I do in fact act older.
You see, I think when I was younger, I had to grow up pretty fast. And now that I don’t have to grow up so fast, I haven’t. I’ve always felt more mature than people my own age. Still do (sorry all you 20 somethings). I was at work, and this guy asked me how old I was. At the time, I was 21. He told me that I act older. I do. I’ve been through a lot, I know a lot, I understand a lot, my standards are high and my tolerance is low. This is my personal recipe.
I don’t think I’ll ever act my age. I certainly won’t think like my age either. As long as I’m always growing, my age will never catch up to my mind. In either direction.
I don’t act my age either. I act like a child. I act like a free, love-sick teenager. Sometimes I find it sad, and I tell myself I need to grow up. But then I realize that I have, and this is my time to live like I was supposed to. My mind is older, my personality is younger. My life is just right.
I don’t dread my birthday. I don’t worry about getting older, because I never feel like I do. I feel the same way now that I did on Tuesday. This is why I pray that I find someone who is a child. Who acts like they’re twenty when they’re thirty, but who is so wise that I wonder about them. I wonder what else is hidden, I’m inspired by them. It will happen.
If you think you’re old, chances are, you are. I forget sometimes how old I am, because I don’t show myself my age. I have a feeling that I’ll keep being 21 for a while. I don’t know. I never have, and I pray that I never will.
I’m sorry that I made it something complicated. I am ready now, it’s not too late.
Every day I’m learning, it’s all about returning. I’m living my life with childlike faith.
Stay young my friends.
