Feeling Twenty-Two

Twenty-Two. If Taylor Swift didn’t write (arguably) her greatest album would this even be a milestone birthday? At 21 I could gamble in Vegas and party in America. At 18 I could go clubbing with my friends. At 17 I drove a car. 16 was sweet. But 22? I’m not so sure.

Why? I feel totally old.

I had to use urban dictionary the other day to figure out what my best friend’s younger sister had commented on a TikTok – which also makes me feel somewhat expired. And I know what you’re thinking! This is so dramatic, right? But honestly, having to use anti-aging creams, Frownies (which are genuinely amazing), and students looking at me shocked when I tell them I'm in my fourth year at university is something I need to get used to.

Saying that, being in bed by 10pm does have it's advantages. I get to comfortably watch Bake-Off , have a cup of tea, and read a book before I go to sleep. To add to that, in the last year I took up knitting... which yes, I know, is not helping my "I'm getting old" argument, but I do have a cosy blanket to show for it.

Truthfully, I thought I would have done more by 22. Like travelled or maybe learnt how to cook something successfully other than pesto pasta. But in reality, I haven't even started living Friends yet.

I saw this concept while doom-scrolling Tik-Tok (because where else do I get my information?). The person who made the video pointed out that when the iconic TV show kicks off, the youngest friend is 24 and the oldest is 26. When you then consider that the whole point of the show is that they don't know what they're doing, they haven't figured out what they're going to do, and they make (so many) mistakes, it makes everything seem far less daunting.

After completing a degree, only now do I feel like I'm actually learning. In the same way that when I passed my driving test at 17, I didn't really start learning to drive until I was doing it on my own. I just needed that extra push to figure it out.

So, in two years I'm not going to be running out on a wedding like Rachel, and in four years I'm not going to be getting divorced like Ross, but I'll be figuring it out. Which by the way, is completely fine.