“the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on…” ~Henry Ellis
When you’re 25, you’ve been out of school for a couple years. This means you have a good base of professional experience to springboard into something you actually like. OR, you have bounced from internship to retail job to bartender gig to babysitting…mixed with living at home again (boomerang kid!). I’m a little of column Z and column Y, and I have learned so much. However, with learning 1 thing you become aware of 5 other things you’d like to explore…exponentially expanding your to-explore list.
When you’re 25, you know yourself. You know what you like, what kinds of people you enjoy hanging out with, how to flirt effectively, and how to prioritize your time, money, and energy. I long struggled with finding a happy balance of close friends, acquaintances, and an extended social network. Being around like-minded people, and sticking with those who make you feel comfortable and allow you to be yourself is really the best. I have a great time in Tampa, despite my desires to head for the (San Francisco) hills, because I have great friends. Done.
When you’re 25, you have a style. At this point, you’ve stopped heading to the mall for every clothing purchase – in fact you may have already relegated the mall to a once monthly dash-through (guilty!). I buy most of my clothes online, when I’m on vacation, or in stores that most people have  never heard of. I love: black & navy, simple cuts, bright embellishments, good accessories, and thoughtful details. See the links area to the right for some of my favorite online shops.
When you’re 25, you have a plan. I can’t tell you what I’ll be doing in 5 years, or what I’ll be doing in 6 months, but I know where I want to go (San Francisco, Chicago, Tel Aviv, Stockholm, Sao Paulo), what I want to do (Make homemade cards, open a store, run a brand), and who I want to meet (Tyler Brule, Christian Louboutin). I’ve spread myself fairly thinly by applying for jobs, applying to school, publishing this blog, exercising, and still working 40 hours a week…but it will get me somewhere someday.
When you’re 25, people will do things for you and with you. My friends came together and threw me (and Paul, my birthday twin) a beautiful party, with guests from every clique, group, and microcosm of gays in Tampa. Mark the pastry chef made a fantastic solid cube birthday cake with glitter in every crevice, Chris made a gigantic batch of both carrot and German chocolate cupcakes, and pastry chef friend #2 (Blair) made a bunch of savory snacks for the sugar counterpoint. Everyone else brought bottles and bottles of vodka, wine, and champagne.
When you’re 25, you have real responsibility. Financial (car payment, credit card debt), Professional (projects, clients), Familial (can’t forget Mother’s Day anymore), and Self (can’t drink without a plan, can’t skip spin class). People rely on you and you better show up or they’ll be pissed!
BEST OF ALL…when you’re 25, you’re smokin’ hot and everyone wants you. Well, not always…but you’ve got your life/shit/self together enough that you are a real catch in some peoples’ eyes. At the very least, you’re confident enough to pretend you’ve got it all figured out, which works just the same. The real hurdle is trusting one of those people with your feelings, vulnerability, and heart…and that’s for another year my friends 🙂 Maybe by #26…
