Being a grown up is... kind of awesome??

I had a Twitter conversation the other day with my cousin that accidentally got me thinking. I say accidentally because my brain runs so fast that I generally don't seek out additional things to wonder/worry about!

It started with me telling Abby how beautiful she looked in a new picture and that I can't believe how grown up she is. This beautiful cousin of mine is a senior in high school, auditioning for colleges where she can major in voice. She rocks.

She responded and said, "Thanks! Growing up is so much fun!"

Hmmmm. I'm not sure that's exactly how I would have put it. Growing up is so stressful? Sure. Annoying? Maybe. But fun? Really?

That's when I started thinking about it.... and the more I thought about it, the more I realized Abby is right (which means in addition to being beautiful and talented, she's also wise!). It's fun to have a house to decorate and make our own. It's fun to have a dog who knows I'm his mom and wants to snuggle with me more than anyone else. It's fun to have a job and actual money and a husband and all that stuff.

Sure, there's some stress and anxiety that goes along with it, but I really feel like I'm more myself at this point in my life than I've ever felt before. Being a teenager never really suited me. Same for college student. Don't get me wrong - I loved college (won't say the same about high school), but not as much as I love my life right now.

Do you feel like you're really "coming into your own" as you get older, or are you nostalgic for a time in your life that was just the best for you? Will I feel this way during every age now that I'm older, or am I just meant to be in my 20s?

Our Twitter conversation ended with me saying, "I think it's probably fun until you hit about 36, right??" to which Abby responded, "What?!? 36 is so young!!!"

And you know what? She's totally right.