#reverb15 // Day 26 // Another year older

I'm joining pals Sarah and Elizabeth to write every day in the month of December, feel free to join in any time! Today's prompt: Another year older. You had a birthday this year. Do you finally feel like a grown up?

I don't think I will ever feel like a "grown up". As long as there is a generation ahead of me pioneering the way through every embarrassment it seems that only the older generation suffer, like not understanding texting, or our many many acronyms for common adages, or the cloud... admittedly, I was lagging a little on the cloud and twitter, but I get it. And, as long as I can secretly google new unheard of colloquial sayings of the younger generation on the likes of urban dictionary and begin using it correctly in sentences seamlessly like I invented it myself, then I will always feel like I can hang in the world of the young.

Right now, I'm all 30's are the new 20's. I truly feel that way. Except when I have to go out past 10pm to "party" and I not only do I resent going, but it takes me a week to recover from it. I call this Youth Jetlag. I am reminded that I am, indeed, well into my 30's. I will be suffering from this promptly on January 1st. Because the moment I sleep right through the new year ball drop, I will feel like a "grown up". Ew.

Other than the desperate need for routine with my sleep, I feel physically the youngest of my life. Even when I was in my 20's, I didn't eat as well as I do now, I didn't prioritize weight lifting, I didn't put on moisturizer (not that I needed an acute correction program for my skin like I do now). So, I was a poor feeling, skinny fat, semi-athletic girl with terrible eczema. I acknowledge though, that I am experiencing more minor injuries than when I was in my 20's. Like my wrist tendonitis, an occasional right pulled butt/hamstring followed by knee pain on my left side for overcompensating, and slightly longer recovery times for normal muscle soreness. Nothing an epsom salt bath and a foam roller can't fix. Yet.

There's really no equivalent to feeling young like soaking in a hot tub of epsom salts. I'm going to stop writing now before I start feeling old. FTW!

Every year, I combat the feeling of adulthood by saying no to things that will trap me in obligation or unnecesary responsibility, jumping around like a child banshee and screaming at people at least once a week (á la BodyAttack), staying as silly as possible and not taking myself too seriously, and always always always trying new things and seeking new adventures. How do you stay young?

No matter how many years I'm celebrating on my birthday, I am always welcoming of my new year with celebration, joy, and my favorite: gift cards. I love a good birthday and being surrounded by people that I love.

#Reflect #reverb15