When I turn 26, call me "Iron Man".
No, it's not my goal to become Tony Stark, alter ego of the Marvel character reintroduced by Tropic Thunder superstar Robert Downey, Jr. As I approach another birthday, many of my principles and theories regarding life are changing. Issues that previously carried a lot of value have become extremely irrelevant; inversely, new events and happenings now possess greater priority. Addressing some of these topics require great strength and endurance, two traits commonly associated with the word iron. As a matter of fact, being an "Iron Man" is a theme that carries a lot of ties to my upcoming age (26 is actually the atomic number of iron.)
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| At my age, the lines between good and bad become a lot clearer; I aim to be a superhero. |
26 is an interesting year. The blurry lines from your life start to disappear. You've escaped the 22-25 "awkward" years where you're not a kid, but you're not old. Messing with someone else's girl is liable to get you shanked; you're 26 and you "know better". Oddly enough everyone starts calling you 30 and the word "swag" is (or needs to be) officially removed from your lexicon.
When you were in college and had no car or house, you were "focused on school"; when you're 26 with no car or house, you're "lazy and no-good". There is growth in this year however; you take charge with your back against the wall. The tolerance for being broke, bad relationships, and...bull decreases dramatically. It's necessary to fight these evils as your reputation depends on it. At 26, the perception of teeters on a thin line, and your actions determine whether you keep standing.
Here's an example: I'm 26, handsome; I have a stable job, and no kids.
On one end, I'm the cream of the crop: "NO KIDS? You have NO BABY MAMAS? You have a JOB?"
On the other hand, I'm behind schedule: "When are you getting married? You don't have a GIRLFRIEND...Are you GAY?"
No.
While the process of making babies is enjoyable, having one is not my first priority. I'd really like to have a wife first, and Jesus told me he'd get back to me about that next Tuesday. In all seriousness, the comfort and success of my nuclear family currently takes precedence, followed by my career. Two weeks ago, I created 6 goals for this coming year (March 24th, 2012-March 23rd, 2013) In my eyes, these are objectives that put me in a better situation, a more appropriate stance for my age.
Another positive about this period of life is that you begin to understand life is not a sprint. There's more to live for down the line, and being satisfied (or dissatisfied) early can cause serious detriment to your legacy. In college, me and most of my college buds dated or "talked" to girls we thought would be around for the long haul. None of them are here anymore, and it's OKAY. We learned from those years and used those relationships to have better dating experiences now. In my first job after college I spent my paychecks on hot dates and DC trips. Now those dollars are reserved for saving for a home, investing in my film career, and...an occasional hot date with a woman who's worth it. Spending, like most things nowadays, needs to serve a purpose. The purpose is to create a GREAT legacy, which is a result of finishing strong, not starting fast. So, as I approach my special day, my dream is to speak to you 40-50 years later, successful and surrounded by love, saying "I outlast and outclassed them all...call me the Iron Man."
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| Do you have the endurance to make history? |
It’s alright to at least once in a while, find yourself. It is healthy for anyone who would want to find peace in their selves first before committing into a mutual relationship.
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