Looking Back on Twenty-Two!

Twenty-two is a weird age to be. It's the first birthday that you don't really care about. You are acutely aware of your age and feel equal parts young and old. After twenty-one, all other birthdays are a letdown. You're now legally allowed to drive (hi, sixteen), vote, buy lotto tickets and porn (what's good, eighteen?!), and drink so twenty-two is kind of an 'eh' year.

At twenty-two, you'll realize that pretty much everyone you went to high school with is either a) pregnant b) engaged c) married or d) all of the above and it never gets any less weird. At twenty-two, if I was a, b, c, or d, I'd be tweaking out.

At twenty-two, kids are kind of like Pandora's box. Some days, I see cute kids, smile, and imagine the day I'll have some of my own and other days, I see kids screaming and crying and it makes me want to go get my tubes tied. There really is no in between with this feeling.

However, you'll feel a little pressured at twenty-two to have kids. I mean, when my mom was twenty-two, she was pregnant with yours truly. That freaks me out almost as much as the ticking biological clock. Women are the most fertile from eighteen through twenty-four so I'm running out of time. Although lately, the mindset is that if I have kids, fantastic, and if I don't, oh well. I've taken a neutral stance.

At twenty-two, you'll have days where you feel like you can conquer the world and days where you feel like conquering a whole new series on Netflix and an entire pizza. What? Cooking for yourself sucks.

At twenty-two, you've finally gotten past all of those tiny insecurities you always had with your body. Enjoy this by having lots of sex. I mean, better enjoy that naked body before all of the weird wrinkles and sags start happening...right?!

At twenty-two, it's still acceptable to accidentally get drunk at a wine tasting without anyone thinking you have a problem. Likewise, it's still acceptable to go to a bar, order one drink, and get a little tipsy without anyone making fun of you.

At twenty-two, you become very aware of money and how much of it you probably don't have. You'll also realize how bad it's going to suck post-college when you have to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars to the government. #ThanksObama

At twenty-two, you realize that the next time your age will have two of the same numbers is when you turn 33. Panic ensues.

At twenty-two, you start to understand how short life really is. It is both scary and grounding. We never really know when it'll be our last day.

At twenty-two, you'll realize that it is always easier to love than it is to hate.

At twenty-two, you tell yourself to find a real doctor and start getting back into the routine of yearly physical exams. You decide to put this off until you're twenty-three.

At twenty-two, you start to get serious about politics and worldly events. You watch all of the debates and realize how interested you are in contemporary issues. The debate schedule makes it's way into your weekly planner. The day of the debate you're a little too excited to watch. You make popcorn. While you're eating the popcorn, you ponder if this is what you have to look forward to in your thirties, forties, and beyond. You imagine yourself watching the debates at fifty. Panic ensues.

At twenty-two, you can eat whatever you want and nothing happens. People around you tell you this won't last. You choose not to believe this and grab another slice of pizza.

At twenty-two, while binge watching 'Friends' you begin to emotionally connect with the words to the theme song and to the trials and tribulations of the cast. #RossAndRachelForever

At twenty-two, you'll realize that you are, in fact, happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time.

At twenty-two, you'll realize that you can't do everything but you are still good enough.

Getting ready to wish for something I'm sure...

Twenty-two, thanks for being the best oddball year of my life. Here's to twenty-three...!