Given my recent celebration of my 24th birthday, the number 24 has been ringing in my head, and man does it feel good. I don’t know if it as good as turning 21, but that was a different me, a foolish and incapable of casual drinking me. 24 has ushered in a new era where I’m not quite at my quarter life crisis yet, so I can take the remaining 362 days to make more questionable decisions, and my decimal savings is not a resounding alarm yet. Yea, 24 is good age for the 3 days I’ve had the pleasure to meet it, so I wanted to share some things that I’ve learned in my 24 years of dominance.

First things is first, I have learned to prep for my nights of drinking. No longer am I a microwave of drinking where I can just turn it on and get drinking. Now I’m more of an oven- my body is needs to be preheated with a beer or two and plenty of water beforehand. 24 is also a year of acceptance, so here’s to accepting the fact that I can no longer drink all night and wake up feeling like P. Diddy. That’s alright with me, it’s a nice reminder that I have my 70s to think about to start eating some greens, cut back on whatever gluten is and do puzzles to keep my mind sharp.

24 years has also made me see things a lot differently, I admire people who float to their own beat and and say fuck your opinion I am going to quit my job and pursue music, art, or anything that is not the generally accepted practice of life. You learn to admire even more of those that think of others, put their career on hold to help out people they’ve never met, travel to third world countries or just traveling period. 24 makes you understand the courage that takes, and you can’t help but silently give props.

24 is also seeing your friends in a new role. George is no longer the crazy comedian of the group who loves to freestyle every time he drinks. Now he is George the crazy comedian of the group who loves to freestyle every time he drinks and is also a dentist that better be giving me a discount on my teeth whitening. You see your friends who are teachers and now it is getting a lot easier to wrap your head around them being given permission to be in charge of human beings. Not just teachers either, I am looking at you all you registered nurses.

The thing I most appreciate about being 24 years is I am finally learning who I am and what I want to do with my life. It’s a far cry from my teenage years where I thought no one else understands me, and I was alone in my problems. 24 is a eureka moment when you realize that others have been in your same position in life and reaching for advice and guidance is a recommended chess move. I am nowhere close to figuring where I want to take my next 24 years, but Ill cross that bridge when I get there.