Christine Beyleveldt

Normally I hate reminders that I’m getting older, and I have been dreading 26 for a while. On my boyfriend’s thirty first birthday last year, we were enjoying a day at the beach when he asked me how I felt about turning 30. At that point, I still had to steel myself for 25. But a funny thing happened today. I realized that I am in a better place today than I was last year.

On my twenty fifth birthday, I thought I was heading straight for a stress-induced heart attack. But today, on my twenty sixth birthday, I realized that I am less stressed and more secure in who I am as a person than ever before. It was a nice reminder that life is about the journey, not the destination. And, from time to time, that journey can take you unexpected places. To celebrate, I thought I’d share a list of things I find amusing about being 26.

26 Signs I’m 26

1. Gen Z made me painfully aware that I am too old to date Leonardo DiCaprio.
2. Speaking of being painfully aware of things—I don’t have health insurance! I didn’t give it a second thought until I lost it, but for all the college kids out there, believe me you’ll start treating your body like the temple it is once you’re no longer covered by your parents’ plan.
3. I did an adult thing this year! I made my first investments and promptly watched inflation gobble up any gains they would have made. Thank goodness I still have 40 plus years to rise and grind every day.
4. Every few minutes, another friend, coworker or classmate has gotten engaged.
5. It feels like my friend group is firmly divided into two camps: the engaged-to-my-first-and-only-love and the still-going-on-stale-dates.
6. I can’t function without a cup of coffee in the morning. But I have to watch which brand I drink if I don’t want to spend the afternoon fighting a roaring headache.
7. A late night out is anything past 10 pm. In fact, one Saturday night not too long ago I went to bed at 8 pm and now I feel bad about all those times I teased my mom about wasting a perfectly good Friday evening sleeping.
8. I never had to worry about hangovers in the past. Now I have to plan around it if I want a glass of wine.
9. I thought I’d be moved out by 25. Nope. I’ve had to readjust my expectations. I’m still living with my parents because my mom was earning the same dollar per-hour wage in 1994 that I am today, but the rent has quintupled. 
10. I’ve got a mental list of all the things I still want to accomplish before kids and I’m rapidly crossing things off. Not because I’m accomplishing them, mind you. But because I’m realizing that time isn’t on my side anymore and I have to sacrifice a lot of those things.
11. Social media is—like most addictions—actually toxic AF and I’m trying to limit how much time I spend on it.
12. If I want to meet up with my friends in October, we have to start planning it in June.
13. After a year-long break from attending the gym, I’m realizing it’s a lot harder to put on muscle and built up stamina now than it was when I was 16.
14. Heels on a night out? Forget it.
15. I sorely miss having an excuse to dress up, though. My favourite dress hasn’t seen the light of day since 2019.
16. I’m mentally trying to block out the thought that there’s going to be a 10-year high school reunion not long from now.
17. Remember when your mom used to tell you there was food in the fridge at home? That’s me to me now.
18. I thought an immersion blender would be a nifty Christmas gift.
19. Whenever my sister shows me a Reddit thread, I have to pretend I understand what the acronyms mean.
20. I have to roll on a stick of robaxis when I get home from work. Kids, for the love of god please take care of your spine.
21. I’ve grown sick of touching up my roots and decided to embrace my natural colour, which is quite a bit darker than I thought it would be. We’ll discuss stray greys another time.
22. I acknowledge that getting married one day is an IF not a WHEN, and I’m perfectly alright with that! If I’ve learned one thing from dating in the last decade, it’s that I’d rather be single than with the wrong person.
23. Happiness is more important than appearances.
24. Because I gave up on the fantasy of “doing what I love and never working a day in my life.” Okay. When I put it that way I sound like a cynic. What I mean is, sooner or later you’ll become practical and find common ground between something that will keep you satisfied and something that pays the bills.
25. Because 10 years after I started working, I finally jumped a tax bracket and the realization hit me like a lead balloon.
26. Finally, a birthday is just another day of the year. In this case, I have to get back to studying for an organic chemistry final before a Christmas party tonight.

What would you add to this list? Did you have any revelations upon reaching a certain age?