The Variety Princess Blog

Happy, happy birthday to moi. My birthday just recently passed on September 10th. Shout out to all my fellow Virgos. I'm now 25 years old.

I must say, I'm feeling great. I'm in a pretty good place in life right now. I've been working on a lot of things that nourishes my soul, and I'm confident that I will end this year in a much happier place than I started it, and that's all that matters to me.

I had a pretty chill birthday, and I didn't do anything too crazy. My birthdays are typically always like that, which I don't have a problem with. However, I planned on going all out for my birthday this year and actually traveling - of course, those plans came to a screeching halt. But I'm not complaining.

Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is aging. I mean, in all honesty, I've thought about it pretty often since I turned 20. That was when I first remember feeling "old". On my birthday a few days ago, one of my mom's friends told me how much she loved being 25. She told me, "Enjoy it. 25 is the best age to be." When I asked her why, she responded, "Because, when you're 25, you're not "young" or "old", you're right in the middle." That got me thinking.

I feel like we put so much thought into what's considered old and what's considered young, and I feel like we stress ourselves out so much over what age we are to the point where it's overwhelming. Especially with women. So much pressure is put on women to follow a strict pathway of what they're allowed and not allowed to do along with what they need to have checked off this nonexistent "checklist" by a certain age.

You need to be married and have kids by the time you're 31 or you're doomed forever. Oh, and when you turn 30, you've passed that threshold of what's acceptable as "young", so you're old now. It's all really stupid, in all honesty.

I feel like "old" is more of a how you act kind of thing. Because I know plenty of people in their 50s and 60s that act younger than some 30 year olds I know. And why are women required to follow that "checklist"? I never dreamed of being married and having kids and a white picket fence. Sure, I've thought about those things and I imagine doing them and having that - but I've never felt pressed to do any of those things and especially not by a certain age.

It's so sad that people who are only in their 20s feel like they're old or that they're getting old because they're going to turn 30 within a few years. 30 is not old. At all. 30 is the new 20, if anything. And it's okay to not have everything figured out by that age. It's okay to still feel and act youthful. It's okay to not be married and have kids. And it's sad that pressure is put on so many people to have those things who are in their early 30s.

When I reach my late 20s/early-mid 30s, I am going to be extremely annoyed if I have to deal with people constantly asking me about marriage and kids. I still see myself doing majority of the same things that I do now when I'm in my 30s - dancing, being a weirdo, laughing way too loud, and still playing video games. And so on - into my 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. Because who ever made rules that you have to act like a typical grandparent from the 1800s once you reach a certain age? Sorry not sorry, but I'm not doing that.

If there's anyone in their 20s, 30s, 40s, or any other age out there - do whatever the hell you want (as long as you're not hurting other people), and live your life in as youthful of a manner as you please. And everyone in their 20s that's feeling like they're getting "old" because they're almost in their 30s.....your life literally hasn't even begun yet. And it probably won't until you're like 45 or something. And remember...some people don't even have the privilege of making it to all of these ages. It's such a blessing. So just have fun, and be nice to yourself.

This was a huge ramble, but the whole point of all this is to say....let's stop putting so much pressure on people (women) when it comes to their age. We're all gonna die someday, so might as well have as much fun as we can while we're here - no matter what age we are. Which means video games until we die and beyond. Am I right, or am I right?

This has been a Variety Princesss service announcement.

Oh, and shout out to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. You're all super appreciated. And even though I have five years to go, I can't freakin' wait to turn 30 in style.

xo babes, Variety Princess