On May 1st, I switched my mom’s calendar for her and was taken back for a moment; on my birthday, she has written Josee “25”. 25. A quarter of a century. Half-way to thirty. Or as my grandpa so graciously put it, 1/4th of the way dead.
I seriously stood there for a few seconds staring at that little square on the calendar. Obviously I know when my birthday is, and I know how old I’m turning (I’m not that old yet), but for some reason seeing it written down made it feel so real.
All growing up, and even through my late teens/early twenties, I thought 25 would be the age my life was all figured out. I’d be pretty established in my career, and have a 401K (even though the jury is still out about WHAT THAT EVEN IS). And I don’t know, I’d probably even live in my own apartment? I wasn’t sure exactly what “established” meant, but I never thought it’d look like this.
So here I am, turning 25 at the end of this month, living in my parent’s basement, working hard to pay off student loans, and trying to figure out where life is going to take me. I was standing there, staring at that stupid square on the calendar thinking of every path I’ve taken that hasn’t led me to be the “successful 25-year old” I thought I’d be, when a quote by Rachel Hollis, author of Girl Wash Your Face popped into my head. “God has perfect timing, and it’s highly possible that by not being where you thought you should be, you will end up exactly where you’re meant to go.”
“You will end up exactly where you’re meant to go.” And all of a sudden some of my shame washed away and was quickly replaced with reassurance.
I have taken so many different paths, routes, avenues, side-streets and roads that I sometimes forget how much life I’ve lived in these 25 years. I’ve been to three universities, met some amazing people, travelled, laughed, cried, loved, learned. And I even did live in my own apartment for a while, before I realized how expensive (and overrated) that is.
I am almost 25 and have a body that is healthy and that works, and that has goals to become a fitness instructor as a side-hustle later this year.
I am almost 25 and have a heart that has loved and been loved, been broken, and put back together by amazing people. And that is learning what true connection is by being vulnerable and letting good people in.
I am almost 25 and have a mind that is sharp, that loves to read and explore. I just had the opportunity to travel around Central/Eastern-Europe with one of my life-long friends.
And I am almost 25 and have people in my life that believe in me. I have co-workers that appreciate and trust me. A family that prays for and celebrates when I succeed, and picks me up and reassures me when I fail.
So here I am, turning a quarter of a century at the end of this month, working at a great place with great people, dating a good man, and living with a family who loves me and supports me. So here I am with gratitude in my heart and clarity in my mind that I am not where I should be, but that I am going exactly where I’m meant to go. And if you ask me, that sounds like a pretty successful first quarter of a century of life.
Resource: Hollis, R. (2018). Girl, wash your face: Stop believing the lies about who you are so you can become who you were meant to be. Nashville, TN: Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson.