If I were to paint you a pretty picture… I’m sitting in a nest of blankets (otherwise known as my bed), surrounded by the animal kingdom (my dog and two cats), listening to “I can’t feel my face” by The Weeknd, reflecting on the last 23 years of life, over a cup of joe. Are you intrigued? Yes? Good.

P.S. The only reason I’m reflecting over coffee verses wine is, because I’m all out of wine (sigh).

I turn 23 on Friday and I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. Should I feel like I have my life together? Should I feel accomplished? Should I have a house, kids (excluding fur babies), a big girl job? Lets be real, I can relate to… none of the above.

How I actually feel, turning 23:

• Whether you have a job or don’t, are in school or aren’t – the one big thing about being 23 is that you have more responsibility than you’ve ever had before.
• When you’re dating someone older that is actually accomplished. Cool. I have the highest score on Fruit Ninja. Does that account for anything?
• The time of being on your parent’s insurance is slowly dwindling away. Only two more years to get sick before I’m pretty much toast. Better schedule all those sinus infections for the next 730 days.
• I’m confronted with a million options regarding what to do with my life, but none of them look particularly appealing.
• This is basically my freshman year of adulthood.
• Anxiety. Anxiety out the wazoo. Can anyone spare a xanex?
• 2 more years until I’m 25, 2 more years until a third of my life is washed down the drain. A truly terrifying reality.
• The gap between where society expects me to be and where I am only gets bigger.

It feels like just yesterday, I was home from Kindergarten (back when every day was a half day), sitting on the couch, eating pb&j with no crust, watching the afternoon soaps with my mom. Snapping back to reality, just yesterday, I was filling out job applications, while taking a break from looking at grad school programs.

Where does the time go? Literally in the blink of an eye, 23 years have flashed by.

23 things I’ve learned in the past 23 years:

1. Sleep is underrated – the older I get, the more sleep I need to function.
2. Take risks – don’t look back in 20 years and think “what if”.
3. Coffee is everything – coffee is gold, the end.
4. Spend as much time as you can with your parents – as you grow up, you realize your parents are actually kick-ass.
5. Pizza trumps all – eat whatever you want, but pizza surpasses anything.
6. You’re always going to have questions, some may get answered and some may not.
7. You’re not always going to get your way – but that’s ok.
8. You should keep up with the news – don’t live under a rock. Be aware of the world around you.
9. On that note, the world doesn’t revolve around you.
10. Don’t speak on a subject you know nothing about.
11. You’re not going to wake up one day and automatically feel like an adult.
12. Don’t take yourself too seriously – no one is perfect.
13. Don’t pass judgment.
14. Don’t make the same mistake twice – if so, learn from it.
15. Always be the bigger person.
16. Never stop learning.
17. Throw out that crop top – you look like a hooker.
18. Be careful with who you trust.
19. Good friends are hard to come by – so, if you find them, cherish them.
20. Be selfless.
21. Be selfish.
22. Speak up for yourself.
23. Have fun – you only live once.

In my opinion, the age of 23 is a pivotal turning point in every young twenty-something’s life. It’s a confusing time, wedged between childhood and adulthood, yet it’s also full of so much excitement. Long gone are the days of skipping class and making excuses. This is the real world, and although it is slightly terrifying, it’s a thrilling place to be.

Here’s to turning 23, on the pursuit of happiness.

To all of my followers that have surpassed this turbulent time, looking back, what advice would you give your twenty three year old self?