3 (gulp) 5

How could the next box appear so quickly? The box that puts me in with the 35 - 49 year olds is less than two weeks away. I find myself filling out forms and questionnaires online just so I can still choose the 25 - 34 group. Why is this such a big deal to me?

I remember being so happy to turn 25; I was a quarter of a century! And 30? It was my best year yet... I ran a marathon, received my master's degree, and got married. But 35 is different. T is still in that 25 - 34 box and I'm moving ahead but don't feel any real accomplishment for moving there.

Is it such a big deal because maybe by societal standards I'm expected to have kids by now... I don't want to use that as an excuse, but I'm not coming up with too much more. Is it because I think at 35 I should own property (a house) or have a higher paying job (I know that money isn't everything but it does make things a bit easier at times)?

What else could it be? Any suggestions for thoughts from those of you approaching this odd number or from those of you for who it is well behind you?

I have a feeling I'll be contemplating this for at least another 13 days...