“Wow” .. that was the word by which that instructor replied when she knew about my age.. I didn’t argue or ask what was surprising .. I kept my surprise to myself, gave a skeptical look in the horizon for few seconds. Then i just faked a smile and continued the conversation.

Inside me, I was wondering what made her surprised. Did she think I was too old for something? The art classes I was taking? I don’t think so especially that she said she had students in their 50’s once.. is it because she saw no rings in my hands so she assumed I was single and she thought I was too old for that? I don’t think it’s that either. Ok, sometimes I look “younger” that people can’t tell my age, but I don’t think that day was one of those days. Well, I kept thinking of assumptions for reasons why she was surprised as if I was too old for something.. What is that thing?

Finally, I’ve reached an answer. Well, the answer is that that something is nothing! There was absolutely nothing that I’m too old for. It was something in her head just like many other people. And this is my point, many people think that at a certain age you’re supposed to be like something, do certain things, or even look in a certain way. And apparently that “certain” age to that girl if not to the whole society is really young! She was just 24 and I was about to turn 27 at that time. 

Watching how life and people are like while turning from early to late twenties, one thing is common and most of the people (especially girls) are doing it, that thing is that they all stress out about fulfilling society’s expectations from them. And they all miss the one thing they think they gain by doing that, and that is their happiness!

After college and after finishing your studies, life seems flat. Not much rules- you can do anything at anytime. You can start anything at anytime. And life stages are not like the 4 or 5 years at college with their levels and rules of passing. Society has its own unspoken levels and rules about when to do what. They could be different across countries but they do exist. And to follow them, you have to give up your happiness and maybe even give up your dreams also because its too late or too early or whatever.

On our birthdays, we think a lot.. about what we’ve done so far, about where we stand in life, about our coming plans for the coming year. And of course, about the number itself- our age. But, many times I think, meeting “younger” people with (dull) spirits confirms to me that keeping a light-hearted, somewhat carefree, youthful spirit no matter the number of years you spent on this planet so far is an achievement. That, with a healthy way of thinking is all that matters. In your new year, you should be thinking more about what is shaping your personality, and change that if you don’t like the result so far. Think about what you’ve experienced in life until now, what else you want to experience. That’s what you should be thinking about on your birthday, not the number itself and how old you’ve become. After all, age is just a number and what matters is how you are not how old you are.