Monday, November 8, 2010

"How old are you?"

"Young."

This has been the question asked of me and the response I give for quite a few years now. I got to thinking the other day, after someone asked me this question, "Why do I feel the need to say that? Why not just own the age I am."

I guess I've always hung out with friends that are older than me. My best friend in high school was three years older than me. I was a year a head in college, thus hanging out with friends a year to three years older than me. I dated and married a guy who is two years older than me. And now I am hanging out with a girl who is four years older than me.

People expect that I am older. I am 21. No older, no younger.

I also never thought or expected to be marred by 21. And I think that plays a part in feeling "too young" for people's expectations. Whenever anyone finds out that I am married their response is, "Married? But you're so young!" The culture we live in does not see the point in being committed to a lifelong relationship when you are still growing up. I do. I love it.

I have decided to be excited and embrace my age. Yes, I have accomplished a lot in my short 21 years of life and I am proud of it! Nothing to be ashamed of. I have traveled to Europe twice, gotten my Bachelors degree, and am married (not that those are the only accomplishments of my life).

God has blessed me. Life is good.

1 comment:

  1. "The culture we live in does not see the point in being committed to a lifelong relationship when you are still growing up. I do. I love it."

    I was really struck by this portion. I'm right there with you sister! Adam and I committed to living our lives together when I was 21 and he was 22. We knew that we wanted to be together forever so we wasted no time. ;) That said we originally were not going to participate in the institution of marriage but found to draft the legal documentation necessary to protect our rights to one another medically, legally, financially, etc. would be too costly. So we married on Adam's 24th birthday after a year and a half of living in a committed partnership. My hang up now is people assume we are like newly weds, I am constantly asked how married life is, and my very Catholic doctor just this week was talking about the stress I'm experiencing in grad school in relation to how hard it is to be newly married. The good news is I (and you!) don't need to justify our decisions or feelings for anyone. We both listened to our hearts and are so lucky that we found our partners so early on in life.
    I wish you all the best Anna.

    Love,
    BreAnna

    ReplyDelete

Followers