What is your magic age? I was speaking with an old friend’s daughter who has been dating the same guy for about 4 years now.  She is about to be 22 and he is approaching 24.  During our conversation she mentioned that 24 is the magic number.  Perplexed, I asked, “What is a magic number and the significance?” She replied, “24 is the age you are supposed to settle down, find a career, own a home, and start planning a family. “ I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams even considering any of those possibilities when I was the ripe old age of 24!  Nope, those thoughts were not even a part of my remote thinking. Now, 30 I must admit was my magic number.  I was supposed to have an established career, husband, and a child on the way, home ownership, and all of the responsibilities that I believed came with adulthood.

For the record, none of these things happened, not a single one! I began to think how these beliefs can be detrimental to my friend’s daughter.  I know they were to me, so I can only imagine they must be to other people. I have decided there is no magic number.  Everything in my opinion happens when it is supposed to; when I am ready and not a minute sooner. It has been a hard realization because like most people I want what I want when I want it. However, a few years ago I made the choice to not push ideas that were out of my control.  Once I made this decision things in my life that I worked for began to come to fruition.  I know for some this may sound a bit kooky, but realizing I couldn’t control everything has really helped me to become more at ease with myself and with other people. I let go of the “supposed to” idea and my magic age, which in turn had me ease up on my own expectations of myself and others.