The Definition of Me....

Recently, a friend of mine posed the question: “What is the most important thing you have learned since Age 22?”
This was heavy one! But it got me thinking….. Often, I feel like I haven’t achieved very much for age 24, as most of my peers have a significant other, a house and/or a baby on the way. Sometimes I feel like “single girl in an apartment” accomplishments pale in comparison to the “learning curve” (if you will). But in my reflection on my life since graduating college, I realized that I am stronger than everyone that’s had it the easy way. For everyone who has a husband or wife or boyfriend to lean on, I have no one (of that capacity). I have to put on my big girl britches and deal with it the hard way. Sure, the single life may be a lot more painful, but I have more strength because of it. And if I ever meet the right person, I’ll be able to offer him more strength, love and acceptance than I would have been able to if I had met him at 20, or 22. When you’re single, you learn to appreciate the small things, because that’s all you have. And if appreciating the small things is who I am, I’m ok with that.

I have been/probably will continue to be rejected by men more times than accepted. But, that’s ok because that doesn’t define me. Only I can decide what defines me. My level-headed demeanor, how I deal with problems, my open-mindedness, my humor and kindness define me. The things I've learned from the people who I love and who love me, define me. And at the end of the day, the power that I have over the definition of me is greater than any rejection or acceptance I’ll ever get.

I’ve realized that at 24 years old, the core of who I am, is exactly who I want to be. There’s always room for small tweaks, circumstances change, improvement is always welcome, but I think being the person you want to be at 24 may be a bigger accomplishment than being married at 24.

The most important thing I’ve learned since 22 is that “I have the power to define me.” What defines you?.....