ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE GETTING ENGAGED AND IT'S REALLY FLIPPIN' WEIRD.

If you are a college student reading this or even in your 20's, I'm sure you can relate. This is the time when, yes, everyone says you are very likely to meet "the one" and start dating them, and this is also going to be true for many of your friends. We've all heard this and it's no surprise.

What is crazy, though, is that dating actually does lead to marriage.

.... Just pause for a moment and let that sink in.

It's insane, right?! We are so used to the concept of marriage being a long, long way off and something that only "grown-ups" can do that when we get to our late teens and early 20's, we're absolutely shocked when everyone around us starts getting engaged. At least, I know I am.

It's so strange to hear your friends talking about ring cuts, proposals, and wedding themes, knowing that you're still out here struggling to get out of bed for an 8:25 AM. My girls are going to bridal shops to try on dresses and I'm sitting on the couch in sweatpants texting them my opinions. They're out testing wedding cakes to find the perfect flavor and heck, I eat cake just for fun.

It's strange, guys. It's very strange.

I'm realizing, though, that my feelings about this whole season of witnessing my friends getting engaged and going through the process of planning a wedding, when I'm not even close, are nothing new. It's crazy for everyone when their friends start to talk about getting engaged, especially if just a few years ago, you were still in high school.

That being said, let me just say something that's as much for myself as it is for everyone else who's feeling a little awkward with all the adulting going on here- the timing is different for everyone.

Some people find the person they know they're going to marry and pop the question within a matter of weeks. For some people, it takes a couple years. For some people (please, Lord, have mercy on me), it takes MULTIPLE years.

What I'm saying is, however strange it may be to see everyone you grew up with getting engaged and married, that doesn't necessarily mean it's supposed to be your time too. It doesn't even mean it's NOT going to be your time soon.

Just take a deep breath, congratulate your friends, and enjoy the ride! This is an exciting season for them, so while our timing is different than many of our friends' right now, just know that it's okay. Your time is coming and until then, spend it learning, building up friendships, and doing the things you love. (:

In this season of my friends moving into the next stage of their lives, I'll be continuing my 8:25 AM's, lounging around in sweatpants, eating cake, and cheering them the heck on. My best friend better not get any bright ideas for awhile though. Haha just kidding! ... Kind of.