Age Is Just A Number

"To live will be an awfully big adventure"

J.M.Berrie (author of Peter Pan)

The thought of turning 29 excites and scares me all at the same time. I don't feel 29...I don't look 29 (or at least I hope I don't), and I certainly don't act 29 a good percentage of the time. So why does the thought of turning this rather meaningless age frighten me? 

When I was younger I always thought by 25 I would be married with a couple of kids and living in a house with a few dogs and a career that I worked hard for in college. That is what is considered to be typical for us Southern girls...a married, college educated mother who drives a minivan to football practice and standing at the Girl Scout cookie booths with her daughter on weekends. 

If you know me at all...the above list is not me...not even close! At 25 I was working a retail job that I didn't want forever. I was dating a guy that I probably already knew I wouldn't marry, and I had left college after 2 years of being frustrated with my accomplishments. I was WAY off track of where I wanted to be in life. I constantly compared myself to those who were married or engaged and I often thought that my parents were secretly wondering if all hope was lost in me being the woman they tried to raise. 

After getting over the hump of 25 I started to change my viewpoint on my life and the person I had become. By age 28 I realized that the timeline that others and myself keep for 20 something women was not realistic nor was it fair. By comparing myself to everyone around me I was missing out on the opportunities I had been given. 

I have been to 28 countries in the last 10 years. I have traveled to some of the most beautiful places on earth, had fellowship with some of the most amazing cultures, and been a part of some of the craziest adventures one could imagine. I get the opportunity to serve my community in ways that I choose to because of the free time that I have in my schedule. I am able to give time to my church that a parent or a married person would not be able to possibly give. The adventures that I am able to choose to take part in are vast and extremely exciting! 

I remind myself constantly that I would not be able to do a majority of these things if I had a husband or a child. I would not be able to be the adventurous soul that I am...I would not be able to satisfy the wanderlust that is deep within me...I would not be able to serve God in the many ways I am able to being single!

It has taken me a few years to reach this point of happiness of being single and growing older but a few things I have learned are things that any single 20-30 something can take away from this blog.

Don't pity yourself for not having a significant other.
Do take advantage of your single life and plan adventures

Don't envy what new parents or newly weds have.
Do soak up your alone time and use it to benefit your community.

Don't dwell on relationships and dating
Do pray for future encounters (but this should not be your focus)

Don't get in a rut of mindless dating
Do date purposefully

Don't settle (I mean it! If you get a feeling...trust yourself)
Do be realistic

Don't compare your life to those who are the same age or younger than you.
Do look for opportunities to thank God for blessing you.

Being single is and can be a gift from God. Use this time to worship him and focus on your relationship. Pursue a relationship with God and pray for wisdom for future relationships, friendships, and opportunities that he gives you in this journey!