A Perpetual 32-Year Old
A couple of days ago, I thought, “I’m a grown up now? When did I that happen?!” Sounds strange, but you have to understand, I’ve always seen myself as a perpetual 32-year old. And for me, being a late bloomer, being a 32-year old meant I was in graduate school, just starting my life. I spent my mid-to-late twenties playing catch up, finishing my undergraduate degree. I always felt like Joe Cool, who was just having fun.
As a 32-year old, I wasn’t in my marketing career yet. I didn’t even know I was going to go into marketing for technology companies back then. I was having fun, going clubbing and being single after an on-again-off-again six-year relationship in my 20s. I didn’t have any responsibilities except to get through my graduate program,hopefully figuring out a vision of myself.
Feeling My Age, When Did 80′s Music become “Musak?”
But these days, I’m feeling like my 45-year old self. I finally look my age, which I hadn’t before. In my late 30s and early 40s, friends used to get annoyed that I was always carded and they weren’t. Now, young people call me “Ma’am” that always shocks me. I no longer listen to dance music or extended 12″ mixes like I used to. When did that happen? Now, I listen to 80′s music, if I do choose to listen to something. And what’s worse, 80′s music is now Musak! Gees. My 90s dance music comes in second, when I’m discovering new music like “Trash” by The Whip.
My 80s music is now background music in elevators and casinos? Weird. Only adults and grown ups hear their music as musak. When did that happen? Also, I was only 14 when I first when the first Star Wars came out, 17 when Empire Strikes Back was released, and 20 when Return of the Jedi came out. Now after three prequels later, it’s all over and I’m 45 years old? Wow. I’m trying to wrap my head around those thoughts: Star Wars is complete and I’m really 45.
But I’m still a Disney Kid
I’m okay with being a grown up now. Thank goodness I still “feel” like a big Disney kid. That will never change. I still need to go to Disneyland and Disney World, when hurricanes aren’t trying to wipe Florida off the map. I try to get to Disneyland once or twice a year with dear friends and family.
The Answer to “When Did I Grow Up?”
Today, I no longer see myself as that 32-year old, who didn’t know a thing about managing my career. Today, I’m older, wiser, and slightly calmer. So “When did I grow up?” I grew up after I landed my dream job of being a VP for a company that I loved working for. I grew up when I realized that my CEO trusted me. Funny how having him believe in me so much, contributing so much to his company made me grow up. Am I happy about feeling like a grown up? Yep, because to me that means I’ve arrived at some “theoretical” stage in my life, a place where I love reading, unlike my childhood self. On that note, enjoy Garbage’s music video,
“When I Grow Up.”
