Life and Times: Stages

As some of the greatest people I know are getting engaged, married and having kids (number 1 or 2) it has me thinking about the different stages we are in life. The things learned and experiences had. No, I’m not in that engaged, married, or kids phase. Yet I couldn’t be happier for the company I keep that are in those phases. To see that at any moment your life can change tremendously, regardless of your plans. Most of the time you have no choice but to go with the flow, no matter how overwhelming it may be. Just yesterday, we were all kids living it up and trying to experience the most of life. Trying not to have any real responsibilities, throwing caution to the wind. Now we are off into new adventures and though we are not all in the same place anymore, these are still adventures we can have together. I’m still single and I’m excited about my 30th birthday present to myself (hopefully a trip to Europe). Buying my first house! While my girlfriends in relationships are getting married and having kids. Each stage had to be experienced in order to enjoy the other.  I think I will have a certain appreciation for marriage having experienced being single for so long as I have. I love being single! It has given me a chance to learn who I am outside of a “we”. To know what I want and need as Lovey. I learned my strengths and weaknesses, things that I couldn’t learn while being some ones daughter, sister. I had to have to time to be Lovey. I’m so grateful for this stage of life and I wouldn’t wish it away for anything. I never wanted to get lost in someone or something, so much that I would forgot who I am. You know you become a girlfriend, fiancé, wife, or mother and that becomes who you are, your identifier. Now, when it’s time for me to be someone’s wife and mother I know what I can and cannot bring to the table. I know that you can never be prepared for those things. But what I have experienced in my mid to late 20s have have learned that it takes more to being someone’s wife than just a wedding or being able to be a “we” and it takes more to being a mother than carrying the baby. You have to be able to compromise and not just get what you want or give the other person what they want. You have to be a little bit less selfish and put your kids first. I’m lucky that I have seen and learn those things. Though my adventures in singleness, I have discovered who I am, given myself time to be selfish, learned to compromise and so much more. Seeing my friends go through their stages as well has taught me a lot. I wish everyone the best always and though we grow a part I pray that we always find our way back to each other. I am going to need the company I keep when I finally catch up.