Twenty Six
Getting old. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it. And the honor, this month, has fallen to me – Marian Keyes in Postcards From the Bed.
Yes, I’ve turned 26 – the numbers that belong to the late twenties category. It’s quite scary, come to think of it; that in four more years I’ll be hitting the big three-oh. 30! The age where girls have already on their way to having their second children or getting promoted or setting up their own online business selling unique handcrafts to European countries.
But getting married and having kids are not really in any of my top priorities. I’m here to enjoy life as much as I can and it’s too bad to waste time just to mourn how old we’re getting and that we haven’t achieved anything spectacular despite us being older and that other people younger than us – like Britney Spears who’s even had her nervous breakdown and slowly making a comeback – are doing better than us.
But how do we define the term “better”? Is it by having more money? more influence and success? or by inspiring the people around us to cherish the time that they have in this world?
Or is it simply, by living our lives as best as we can and appreciate what we have now, because who knows what may come tomorrow?
When I turned 25 last year, himself made me a 25 pages album of digitally-made illustrations which was filled with lovely words that have been so familiar to my ears, and he had also bought me an Intuos3 for my birthday present, which was what I’d always wanted but never got the chance to buy. This year, he got me Derwent’s Aquatone in 24 colors, plus two paintbrushes (making it all 26 items in total).
He is the only man in my life who believes in me, even at times when I’m doubting myself, and when I feel like there’s not enough creativity in me to get myself going. I often feel that as I get older, I’ve gradually lost my creative sparks.
Back then when I was in junior high school, all I wanted to do was to draw; on my school notebooks hidden behind a text book where my teacher taught I was taking notes, and on scrap papers and old calendars at home, until time stretched to 2 am in the morning.
Something that was once an enjoyable activity to pass the time has, these days, become quite challenging for me to do. And yet … I refuse to say that I’ve lost it all.
A friend once told me that a person could not lose his talent but merely just being out of practice.
So that’s what I’m doing now; practicing. Back to charcoals and 2B pencils, oil pastels and watercolors. Not really the exact tools for grown-up artists.
But perhaps I don’t want to grow up at all. Let me be young and free to draw whatever my heart desires.
Because we only live for a very short time.
Thank you to all my friends who’ve made my day by remembering my birthday, for the lovely wishes you all have taken the time to deliver to me either via text messages, blog’s tagboard or Facebook.
Thanks also to Rima and Inest for your courageous writing on turning older – we might be old but we still got the sex appeal! Ivy has threatened me that she would not take no for an answer in regards to her giving me a birthday present and we’re about to meet up next weekend, and Elyani has also made me wait in anticipation because she’s sent me some much-loved goodies through mail. God bless you all!
17 comments
Happy birthday again.
By the way, the Journal’s comment box has been fixed. Drop by and give comments ya! Cheers.
Dear Therry,
I hope you will enjoy my semi-surprise birthday present! Ah..baru 26 ya? jadi berasa kayak nenek2 nih
Waktu Therry baru lahir aku udah kelas 1 SMA..hihihi…dah kinin2…:)
hepi birthday therry… enjoy life as much as you can ther, hidup cuma sekali koq… go chase all your dreams, dont let anyone get in your way.
Happy B’Day from Batik Boy,I’ll toast you with my scotch tonight.
Oh geez Therry, 26 is YOOOOOUUUUUNGGG!! Who on earth has second baby when she’s 26 nowadays? That is scary! When I was 26 all I was thinking is making money,climbing a career ladder, and of course, partying. Come to think of it, I haven’t changed since hehehe.
Happy birthday!
hey girlie.. again, happy buday, and i hope you will have a good year ahead of you.
love,
me
Happy Birthday Sweetie…
I´ve prayed for you last night..
Enjoy being 26
muachhhhhhhhh
InesT
Hey Therry,
Again, happy birthday
26.. uhm… you are still young honey, age is just a number
Btw I like your new home.
Happy Birthday, Therry
26…
teenagers…
only a little bit pass puberty…
wacom intuos3 and then pantone!!!
wew…
Have a great day Therry. Make your life spectacular. Phew, I’m old.
Let me add my best wishes for your birthday too!
Happy Birthday!
May the coming year be better than the last!
26 makes you a spring chicken compared to an old bastard like me! I cannot remember what I was doing when I was 26
Enjoy the rest of the week and the weekend!
Happy birthday, Therry. Life starts at 40 and you haven’t even hit 30! No complaints, please.
Ther blog lo rame banget ya sekarang. Blog gue dah sepi ther.
Mau berhenti aja. Pamit ya..
Life starts at 40 for men but i heard sex for women in 30s gets better and better hahahaha…
Happy belated Birthday again!
Like I have told you earlier, 26 is far from old! Cheer up! I think you’ve accomplished a lot and don’t be too hard on yourself about it. Not everyone is a superhero (or superwoman?) and I think it’s good if you feel great about yourself no matter what the other might think of you!
Darn.. I’m late! (my stupid RSS-reader crash on me)
anyway, Tanjoubi omodettou!
and yeah.. enjoy your own life
and do not life on somebody else’s life & happiness (as most person do)
26.. hmm you still can claim the “twenty-something” and “about-to-thirty-something” position :big-grin: