HOW I FEEL ABOUT TURNING TWENTY-FIVE

img_2553.jpg

Aren’t birthdays the best excuse to eat cake and be silly?

On Thursday I turn twenty-five years old. Someone pass me a party hat & let me blow out an insane amount of candles please.

Yup, twenty-five as in a quarter of century. As in half of fifty. As in the run up to thirty. As in official adult age where I must, must, must start taking responsibility for myself and behaving more maturely (that means stop asking for a unicorn for Christmas). 

And I’m actually really, really excited about it.

And this is rather unusual. Because I am not a big birthday celebrator. I mean, I look forward to my birthday as much as any ten year old, but I’m not a big arranger of birthday celebrations. I won’t plan a party. I probably wouldn’t even do anything if it wasn’t for my Mum and Max making all the lovely arrangements.

But this year feels different and my birthday celebrations seem particularly sparkly and exciting. It feels like a proper ‘coming of age’ birthday. In a completely different way to what it felt like at eighteen or twenty one.

Turning eighteen, I was a bit unsure of myself. I was a tad awkward and felt like the only thing I should be excited about was finally having ID and getting into Mayhem Nightclub in Southend. And what a huge disappointment that was. I realised then and there that I didn’t like that type of partying and omg why was I so different to everyone else my age. Cue freaking out.

Turning twenty one was better; my Mum threw me this amazing all female afternoon tea with ladies from all different parts of my life. That was epic. But I was in my last year at Drama School and stress was my middle name; I was unsure of what I was going to do career wise with my three years of theatre training and I was about to embark in an end of year show where they wanted me to get naked in a bath (on stage, may I add). No wonder I was feeling slightly on edge. If only I had had this to read eh.

And now I’ve hit twenty-five. What a grand age to be. I’m settled and happy. I have a brand new job to start in a weeks time and I live in a beautiful, happy bungalow with my best friend. The only thing missing in life is a dog companion (birthday present idea maybe…?)

Baaaasically hashtag I am grateful for so many things RN. Birthday’s are about cake and presents and parties. But they actually serve as a great opportunity for self reflection every year.

And I realise now, unlike my awkward & unsure eighteen year old self, or my stressed out, slightly lost twenty one year old self, that I am doing okay. And things are just so. How they should be, in fact.

And it makes me incredibly excited for the years to come.

Now can I open my presents yet?

(FYI this post was totally not a reminder for you guys to send cards and dog shaped presents. Although all will be welcomed with open arms. Winky face)

img_2549.jpg