My first big realization...

I'm aging.

I feel older. Maybe it's because I'm a "real person" now; living on my own, further away from my family than I've ever been for a prolonged period of time (within the U.S.). Maybe it's because I have my own bills. Maybe it's because I have a career. Maybe it's because I'm not in college anymore.

I think it's a combination of all of that. But the moment I truly realized I was aging was at target last week. It started as a regular trip to target, I needed some sunscreen and some face wash. I was in the lotion aisle when I started looking at all the anti-aging creams. I was comparing prices between brands, looking at $/oz, the sales, anti-wrinkle vs. anti- aging. I realized I was in the market to buy age defying lotion. Nooooooo! I'm 22 years old and I'm worrying about wrinkles! It has to start sometime, I guess. I think the abnormal amount of stress I've been suffering through has aged me quite a bit. I always look tired... which is probably due to the fact that I am, well, tired. I think it's safe to say you look older when you have bags under your eyes. I've grown up more, here, in Texas, in the last 2 months, than I ever have in my life. But, this growing up has not only made me feel more mature, it's made me feel old. I'm not a college kid anymore. I'm a college grad. I'm a working woman no less. I am a woman, who puts on anti-aging cream every morning before she goes to work. I'm getting older, every day. Hard to believe, I know.

I've been alive for 8,216 days. That's a whole lotta days.

-care