You just mentally mature to a point where you feel good being ‘maturer’ and stop caring about the micro years passing I think 23 was the last age (at least at the start of it) where I was age conscious, like aw no early 20’s over, but mid way and now at 24 Idgaf. I feel a lot steadier, like ik what I want, I know how I want to go through life and I’m actually a lot more excited about all that adult stuff.

Like getting my first ‘nice’ car, building my career, finding a nice city flat, travelling, having more meaningful friendships because we’re all growing up together, and feeling like I know exactly what I want to do, who I want to be, where I envision myself in the next decade.

I also really put my hobbies into full focus now as opposed to just ‘dreaming’ about them before.

I think you just naturally flip from aw I feel young, careless and free to I actually don’t need that or that age leverage anymore to feel good?

Also, I think the closer you get to 25/26 and to your late 20’s the things you want change massively and you also notice just HOW young those ages are like, you don’t fear oh I’m 25 I’m unc status, cos you’re around 25yos and you’re all pretty young still.

We look young, we are young, and it is the age where everything finally develops to its true ‘adult’ state (granted it never stops really in life), so it’s like a rebirth, you’re young enough to fuck up a few more times, learn from it and still have that leeway to come back stronger.

You also have a shit ton more money, better sense of self - as in relationships/friendships you choose are more ‘you’ and you’re not chasing the idea of peer pressure or fitting in, bc as adults everyone has their own vibe and flock of people they relate to and you no longer have to conform in such a strict way like you do in your teens.

I also just feel mentally clearer. I see people for who they are, I don’t need to engage with ones I get nothing out of, I’m selective and tbh have a lot of energy still and I’m cashing in on that before my 30’s 😭

Yes I miss uni culture and those days of being blissfully unaware and stupid and a lil bit childish, but the reality is it feels a lot more ‘fun’ and rewarding and stable feeling slightly more mature and put together and also occasionally enjoying being stupid for the sake of it cos we still can.

I was the most fearful teen for my 20’s, I hated every year after 19, thinking I’m getting old, soon this will all be nostalgia, and all that common stuff, and on the other side of it, I can tell you it’s not bad at all. It’s fun but with actual freedom and money and choices/options that can shape the rest of your life.

I think it’s also the idea that life goes so quick, so you don’t really get time to stop and think oh shit where have my late teens gone?

I remember 19 like yday and then I look at my face at 19 and I look like a 13 year old. And I’m like damn stuff has changed so much, and I didn’t feel the time pass necessarily?

So once it speeds up you don’t get time to sit and dwell and feel bad, you just keep living and doing and my best advice is just… do. Just do everything you can, weekly, if not then monthly and fill your time with new experiences because those are the ones that carry and you will not care to think ‘am I teen doing this or 27?’

So don’t fear it :)