Nearing the End of the End... of My 20's

Dear whomever,

It is with deepest regrets that I must inform you of the approaching demise of Alicia's 20's. The prognosis is bad -- I'm afraid her 20's have only one year left to survive, after that... gone. They will live on in our memories and in our hearts. In these next few months let us reflect on this period of youth and what it means to move beyond them into the after youth, otherwise known as "the 30's." If any of you need someone to talk to in order to grieve this loss, please know my door is open and I am always available -- except after 9PM, because I will be in my jammies, drinking cocoa and watching the tellie before my early and maturely responsible bedtime.

Signed,

Alicia -- one week before her 29th birthday.


Ok, maybe a bit dramatic, but funny nonetheless. As I approach my last year as a twenty-something I find myself reflecting quite a lot on the last decade. At first there was the typical self-flagellation -- "I wasted so much of my time! Why am I not a wealthy successful blah-blah-blah?" Then I stepped back. In the last nine years I have fallen in and out of love (a few times), and in doing so have learned what I want from a relationship and have developed healthy standards for myself and the people I surround myself with. I earned a degree. I moved clear across the country for an internship --  this was my first experience being completely on my own. No family, no friends, just me.  I reconnected with my parents and have developed a more healthy relationship with my family. I rescued a cat. I moved A LOT. I found a group of friends that I call family. I sold over $1000 of my paintings. I started (and not quite maintained) a blog. I flew in a small airplane for the first time. I obtained credit card debt and have nearly paid it off. I made mistakes and I learned from them. It was a very eventful and progressive nine years.

I'm not afraid of my 30's, I think they will be a fabulous decade. I am nervous about aging -- I have my share of silver hairs already and have a hard time imagining my face creased and sagging, but I'm nowhere near there yet. I hope I can live my life in such a way that near the end of each decade I can look back and say "I grew."

How about you? Anyone else going through a similar reminiscence? Or perhaps some advice from those who've made it through a few decades and never looked back with regret? I want to hear from you.