22

We're

 happy

                     free

confused

and lonely at the same time

It's miserable and magical

It's June. My last month of being 22 years old!

I learned quite a bit about myself this year.

To be honest I don't even want to turn 23!

I like being 22. It's a good age!

Getting older scares me...but life is life and we must keep moving forward.

This year one of my biggest accomplishments was finally embracing something that I always pushed away.

I often hear these words:

You're really pretty!

You're gorgeous!

You're sexy!

You're beautiful!

They have been coming out of the mouths of children, old women, boys, men,  and even random strangers.

All my life I've noticed people stare.

At first I thought there was something wrong with me.

One day my friends just laughed at my confusion and said:

It's because you're so pretty..

I will never be full of myself and brag about this so called beauty, but deep down inside I've always known I have the ability to make heads turn.

The secret most people don't realize is; everyone has this ability.

Everyone is beautiful in their own way. The key is how you present yourself.  

What you must know is, our beauty isn't what is on the outside.

It's not the clothes we wear.

The makeup we slather on our faces.

The stilettos that make us taller...

It is in the inside.

It's our souls.

Our kind hearts.

Our smiles.

It's healthy to like yourself.

To be proud of your image.

To carry yourself with class and elegance is very important.

I really don't feel that gorgeous most days, so it's strange to me that people think I'm attractive. 

 As a 22 year old I finally accepted it.

I'm not going to let it be strange to me anymore.

Taylor Swift wrote a song called 22.

It's my anthem. 

People have really criticized it.

Apparently her song is not what it's like to be 22.

They say her song is rubbish.

but I don't think they really listened to her words.

Any age can be miserable and magical.

Any age can be lonely.

Any age can have you wanting to be rebellious.

We are all human.

We all want someone to be next to us at some point.

22 taught me to be proud of myself.

To embrace my weirdness.

To not worry so much.

Being 22 taught me to take chances and jump off the cliffs of uncertainty.

To plow into the world with bravery.

To believe in myself.

To follow my heart.

To let go of something that should've been let go ages ago.

To realize my worth and stand up for myself.

To like whoever I want to like.

To not let the words "what if" flicker into my brain.

If they do, you'd better fix your mindset and change things or else those words will eat you alive.

There is just one more month left of being as young as I am.

I'll make sure my final chapter of this age will be my best!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUWqGvYgWdA

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the story. Age isn't always a wanted thing. Can't stop age. A wise person enjoy the day of youth and hope they don't go too fast. Thank you for sharing the outstanding story.
Coyote

[B]

Being 22 for life
That is the way to live
being beautiful is skin deep
and being free means free falling every moment
I love your write
so simply absorbing the reality of people
Beauty and youth
Inside the heart for life

[dan]

We folk who turn heads for different reasons hear that it's what's on the inside that shows our beauty but the reality is too often lowered self-esteem due to name calling, bullying and self-loathing. Not taking anything away from your point, it IS true that we are all beautiful in our own special ways, but for those of us who look in the mirror and see how others SEE us and the word beautiful doesn't come to mind...it's not enough to recognize the beauty in our souls. Your writing is outstanding and your point is on target but it doesn't show the flip-side of the coin. Thanks for sharing your well-meaning thoughts. take care...dan

[AaronFreitas]

You are right my friend... any age can be lonely, miserable, chaotic and great all together. I love how you said " I believe in myself, to follow my heart." A great write I love your style :)

[....................]

Twenty-two is a great age and yes, everyone can turn heads (no matter what age) - all they need is confidence in themselves to be genuine... this will be a testament to your twenty-second year and perhaps, when you are a lot older, you can look back and compare how you feel then about, say forty-two :) A fun read!

[Tomorrowneverknows]

A very optimistic and encouraging writing. Yes 22 (in Spain we say "the two ducklings" ) is good age but 23 will be better ;)

I am so glad to read your words Kathryn

"Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you..."

- Jesus

[Korin]

I can relate. The desire to be looked at for my knowledge and not what i look like is the a battle i face :(

[Kathryn Smith]

I feel your pain! We live in a shallow world. Don't worry someday someone will definitely look at you for your knowledge and not for your beauty! I already am. :) xo

[Korin]

Hopefully so :)