The End of My Mid-Twenties

"The years teach much which the days never knew." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Okay.....sorry to fail on Family Farm Friday again, but I needed to post this today so that the timing is right. I'll be back with something about cattle and horses and sheep (oh my!) next week.

Today I begin my last month of being in my "mid-twenties." As of November 1, I will officially be moving into the "late" category. Sigh.
I read a quote recently that I thought was a great explaination of life for a 20 something.

“The 20s are like the stem cell of human development, the pluripotent moment when any of several outcomes is possible. … The 20s are when most people accumulate almost all of their formal education; when most people meet their future spouses and the friends they will keep; when most people start on the careers that they will stay with for many years. This is when adventures, experiments, travels, relationships are embarked on with an abandon that probably will not happen again.” What Is It About 20-Somethings?” New York Times Magazine
Now, be honest. How many of you tought, while reading that, "Who does she think she is writing some big fancy word like pluripotent in a blog? She's not some hoity toity girl like that."
It's true. I had to look up the word myself. :) It is talking about cell growth--pluripotent means the point where the cells can become one of many different cell types. Put another way, they are "not fixed as to developmental potentialities." (Thank you medical dictionary!)

So now that we have that out of the way---I love this idea. And I think it's true.

As a twenty-something girl, I feel this way about my life. I have the time, the money (at least within reason) and the freedom to do whatever, go wherever and meet whomever I want. I don't have things that completely tie me down, and I don't have to worry much about other people or what they think or want when I make decisions. If I want to hop on a plane with 24 hours notice, I do it. If I want to run a race with a bunch of crazy (and some nude) people, I do it. I am pretty sure this is going to end sometime and I'll probably look back on it and wish I could re-live these days!

Although I am fortunate to have accumulated a wonderful group of friends from all different parts of my life, I would say that most of my best friendships were formed in my 20's. The Oklahoma Girls and Soul Mate Friend and most of the Animal House boys didn't come along until I was in my twenties.

And for other friendships that have been around much longer, like those that began when I was a kid in elementary school, I think that they became stronger in my 20's. In particular, BFF, College Roomie, Teacher Friend and at least one of the Animal House boys were all in my life for a long time, but it feels like our friendships were really sort of cemented in my twenties.

I figure a big part of why this friendship thing is true is that during this time in my life I've sort of figured out who I am. I know what I like and am over the pretending to be someone or something I'm not. I think that allows me to identify the friends who are truly forever friends and keep them around. I think another part, sadly, is that I've lost several good friends....it makes me more aware of how important my friends are to me and how thankful I am to have them here with me!

I also am quite sure that my formal education is over with (no more finals EVER in life, thank you very much!) and the career choice seems to be working out. So, basically the checklist is compete, except for the whole meeting the spouse thing. Good thing I have three more years to accomplish that one.

So all in all, I'd say my early and mid-twenties have been a complete success. During these years I think I figured out who I am, what I want (at least for now), who I want with me during the good times and bad times that have come, and have learned to appreciate the stage of my life that I'm in. I'm looking forward to what will come in the "late" years.

Oh, and by the way, I'm sort of slow on the boy thing, so feel free to send spouse nominations my way now. We only have three years you know! :)