26 ain’t but a number

I did not gleefully anticipate 26. This is not from a place of ingratitude, rather from a place of worry. Well, not “worry” totally, the word ‘worry’ is rather too defining. It was a combination of fear, expectations, excitement, worry and hope. Bestowed with the title, ‘first born’ has continuously thrown me into an adult before my age ticked adulthood.

The sense of responsibility is very heavy my dear friend. As I grew older, the sense of responsibility to please, slipped into the sense to be! It was not just a responsibility to my parents, I began to realize that I carried myself and I had a responsibility to ME.

26 comes quiet.

Even though outward tantrums persist, the quiet reminder of how far you have come and the tracks yet uncovered rings louder than the alarm clock. Gradually, it becomes laced with your every decision; your thoughts and motives. Did I dread 26 because I didn’t want to be responsible? No! My actions have always been tailored into being responsible; weighing thoughts and actions on a balance of what I represent now and years to come.

One thing I know this age has provided is the calm. It has been said many, many times. So many things I worried about when I was 18, right now, holds no water. Honestly, I cannot remember. Another thing this age has afforded me is the awareness of my purpose and I’m loving it!

The questions I ask myself, some answered in truth, others in denial, gives clarity; the eyes of my mind is opened even more. I am more aware of conversations around me, people’s lessons, their processes, their wins, all of these I evaluate to determine which can be emulated.

There is the nudge to be in haste, to be productive all the time and when that doesn’t happen, to throw myself into the boxing ring. 25 had a lot if that experience but 26 is teaching me to trust, to see, to wait, to study and apply wisdom from observing. Like I had told myself before- this is a process. Heck! It’s a different chapter of a budding story and it is progress.

FAVOUR E. OMONFONMA

(All images were gotten from Freepik)