No I haven’t, there are still four months to go but the pace at which the last couple of years of my life have gone by – I have developed this newfound trust in the age old adage, ‘time flies’, it does, really does. I know I’m going to be 26 before I know it. To tell you the truth, it doesn’t look half as bad! I’ve seen all sorts of women go through the 26-ing; from a woman who’s dating the love of her life at 26 meanwhile having a spectacularly successful career, to the woman who bore all her children by the age was sending off her first born to school every morning at 26, to the woman who was giddily prepping for her wedding at the age to the entrepreneur who was just opening up her wings to take a flight. I for one don’t see myself classified into any of those categories and am really just, for the most part letting life pass by, taking each day as it comes and it’s NOT BAD at all! Trust me when I say this, it’s not all bad. The past two months, I’ve often found myself mulling over hitting 26; thoughts ranging from I’d officially have crossed my shelf-life to damn there’d be more responsibilities and more adulating to do. I’m looking forward to 26! Why, you ask? Let me walk you through it;

1. I’m in control of my damn life: Yes, I am. Luckily, my parents have never been the suffocating/interfering type so that was never a problem. Moving on, I’m free of any addictions (read: intoxications), and mind you I have spent a good number of years ‘enjoying’ losing control over those. I’m capable of letting go, now more than ever, anything or anyone who’s toxic for me is dropped out immediately to ensure my sanity and peace.
2. I’m financially more responsible: Yes, I’d still spend $100 on a pair of pants or the same amount at the fortnightly salon appointment but what I mean when I say ‘financially more responsible’ is that I’d make those choices only when I have the disposable income to do so, otherwise, I’m happy opting for cheaper alternatives. Gone are the days when I’d be the girl who’s penniless within the first week of the month. Also what I earn suffices my needs and the over & above allowances are not something I seek anymore.
3. I have a bit of a cougar inside me: With turning 26 (it’s just 26, not turning old or anything just yet), there’s a cheap kind of validation that makes the heart well when a teenager or someone in their early 20s finds you attractive. Not that I’d ever put this one in action (Sorry young hot promising boys, the younger lot has never been of interest to me) Disclaimer: I’m engaged to the love of my life and there’s nobody I’d rather spend my life with but cheap thrills are cheap thrills. You get me, don’t you?
4. My sisters are my best friends: Yes, they are! And yes, we’ve spent years arguing over the fact that they don’t understand me or my life and never will, numerous crockery breaking incidents in the kitchen, numerous GOD-I-COULDN’T-HATE-SOMEONE-MORE-YOU’RE-SUCH-A-MEAN-WITCH. Recently though, I’m the person they confide in, come forward to for advice or to lighten their heart. I could never love anyone more and there’s nobody who gets me more than they do.
5. I can’t start or end a day without looking at my parents: I’m the kid who always yearned to be outside the house, away from the family, alone. And now, I dread the idea of a vacation because I can’t survive without looking at them, talking to them and spending time with them. No amount of time spent with them is ever enough.

In a nutshell, 26 might not be a milestone or the biggest best year of your life but it’s a rather comfortable time, of course with a lot of anxiousness and pressures looming over but that’s what adult-ing is all about! So live it up, don’t think much of that number and no you’re nowhere near close to turning 30 – stop telling yourself that! Ending this with one of my favorite thoughts; You may be old enough to know better but you’re still young enough to do it anyway!