Maturity; a curse and a blessing.
Depending on gender, but seen mostly in women, becoming mentally advanced at an earlier age is normal. However, the degree of development varies greatly.
Were you the one at family parties that hung around the adults most of the time even though you couldn't understand their conversations 75 percent of the time?
Did a vast majority of your friends graduate high school before you did?
Do you find yourself the only one out of your friend group who isn't engaged, married, or expecting a child by now?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you more than likely feel up to ten years older than you actually are.
How to deal with feeling older than you are:
Own your age.
Don't let anyone make you feel inferior to them because of an age difference. There are so many beautiful and amazing people in the world to allow discrimination against friendships or relationships of any kind.
Be prepared for countless awkward situations.
Yes, it'll be awkward for you to have to order virgin or non-alcoholic drinks at a bar or restaurant with your older crowd, but everyone was once underage, so big deal! Who cares!
Most of all, get over it.
Whether it's some of your older acquaintances, colleagues, judgmental outsiders, or even yourself, they'll/you'll just have to suck it up and not let anything bother you. That's the best way to embrace your older qualities and it shows off just how mature you really are.
