23 has finally hit me, I am now in the weird frame of life where as a child I had a different picture to where my adult life is actually at.

At 14 when I talked about my 23year old self, with such hope and life in my eyes I imagined being married, it was almost like I set myself a subconscious goal. Be married at 23. I can safely say that will not be happening.

Instead at 23 I’m still figuring life out, still trying to work out if I classify as an ‘adult’ yet. I’m learning that I will still get IDed for everything despite being 5years over the legal age, I’m not sure when I will actually look over 18 but I’m hoping it’s soon just so when people ask for manager and I come wandering over there faces don’t look suspicious. (I mean I’m not a manger but if your arguing with my team that you want to return underwear I go manager mode)
But turning 23 is not all that bad. Despite not having a wedding ring I still have a lot of good things going in life.

Soon, once I swim through all the bullshit life keeps throwing at me, I’ll be living in a place, possibly house, with my wonderful partner. I’m improving at my job everyday and in return my confidence and finding myself grows each day.
I’m learning more about my worth and what I deserve in life and what type of people I want to surround myself with. And I have a beautiful, although not traditional, family. And I get to extend my New Zealand family and spend more time getting to know my future in-laws.

Despite no one liking you at 23 I think it’s safe to say I like myself and that’s all that matters really.

23 is still the part of your 20’s where everyone’s figuring stuff out. Sometimes I feel like I failed as I watch people graduating with 5year worth of work wrapped into a degree. And then I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be as I climb the retail ladder and search for if I am going to get myself into debt what exactly I want to study.
There is no right place to be at this stage of our life’s or ever really. We’ve passed the 16-18 part where we’re getting told we have to figure it all out and we’re in the ‘shit.. I’m still figuring it out’ phase.