Hey! I don't know about you, but I'm feeling...older than 22....

Taylor Swift - I hear you.
I often feel happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time, and I like to cook the occasional breakfast to eat at midnight.

 But I've got to say, recently, I've been feeling much older 22.

You know those compilation albums where they collect a whole bunch of songs from an era, and smoosh them into one CD for you? Like the 'Now, that's what I call music!' series. (I'm found out I'm actually part of the 'Now' 40s era...and they're now up to number 88...)

Apart from the fact that no-one really buys/needs these anymore - who needs them when there's making your own playlist? - an advert for one came, that was a throwback to the noughties. And all the songs that was being played out of the TV, were all ones that I grew up listening... I couldn't believe that something from my era, was now being marketed as retro!
So, along with that, there were a few more things that were maker me feel older than I actually am.

After years of being on the younger side of the generational gap, the tables have suddenly turned!

22 reasons, why I feel older than 22:

1.) Like I said, when the era that you grew up in, is now considered as retro...

For me, that's everything from music, gaming and fashion - Gameboy colour and 90s chockers anyone?

2.) When a stranger refers to you as 'that lady'...

"No, wait....I'm only like 2 years older than you! You're very polite, but you don't need to refer to me so seriously. I'm young and fun like you too - call me 'dude'!"

3.) When I don't understand a phrase or acronym that's being used...

In the sea of 'baes' and a new meme being born everyday, it's hard to keep up with all these new words.

Even though I had to write out a definition of 'slay' for a friend the other day...
 with new ones being hashtagged everyday, who can even keep up?

4.) When you judge people who are younger than you...
"How are you out in this weather without a jacket on?! You must be so cold - Here. Have a cup of tea!"

5.) When someone has no idea about something, despite coming into contact with it on a daily basis...

You know that 'save' button? Yep. It's an actual, real-life thing that we used to physically save documents on. Boys & girls, I give to you - the floppy disk.

6.) When you can't work a piece of technology, and have to ask for help...

I like to think of myself as a pretty tech-savvy person. But when my 7-year-old nephew knows how to work my phone better than I do? I'm in trouble...

7.) The fact that TV shows you lived and breathed for, are now having anniversaries...

The O.C - I was obsessed with that show. 

I had pictures of Seth and Ryan stuck onto my homework diary with love hearts scribbled all over them. I quoted Sandy's quick quips and Julie's sassy sayings, and lusted over Mischa's wardrobe and Summer's hair. And I can't believe they had their 10-year anniversary last year....surely it can't have been a decade ago since I was singing 'Californiaaaa' at the top of my lungs?!

8.) When new popstars are younger than you...

This is especially worrying when you find them attractive, and have to google their age to see to let yourself know if it's morally ok or not. (I've checked - Aston from 5SOS is 20. It's all above board.)

9.) When you hear about a death, and the names become more and more the people that you know...

10.) The realistion that some kids will ony know songs that are covers of one that you love and grew up with, and think that they're actually the original version...

As much I love myself a bit of One Direction and their cover of 'One Way of Another' was for Comic Relief and helping a great cause. When I heard a girl saying how talented they were for writing such an amazing song, I just wanted to throw her a Blondie album. 

Debbie Harry is the goddess of rock 'n' roll! 

11.) When you have to ask someone how old they are when they ask if they can have your number...
Tragically, this has genuinely happened to me more than once. After a bit of chatting and a drink:
"So , can I get your number?"
"That's really nice but, aren't you a teenager?..."

12.) Things that you love, have now been discoutinued...

Myspace, Bebo, Piczo - I logged into these recently and was devastated to find that all those memories, and sweat and effort that were into HTML formatting, were all good. 13-year-old Amy was super emo about the whole situation.

Genuinely one of my old profile photos from MySpace...

13.) When everything seems to be more expensive nowadays...

"In my day!...." 
Yep. I've become one of those people.

14.) When people consider the popstars that you idolised, to be irrelevant now...

I don't care what you say, Britney will always be my Queen.
"IT'S BRITNEY BITCH"

No-one else rocks a red PVC catsuit like Britney!

15.) When you see freshers pack off and move to uni...

And kind of wish you were going too, and doing it all over again.
But also really happy that you'll be safe in the knowledge that you're not going to be drinking a questionable concoction of spirits in a sticky venue...

16.) When child actors and popstars that you grew with, are now dating/getting into trouble...

"MACAULAY CULKIN! You're not old enough to get arrested for drugs and going to jail...you're 12 and still setting up booby traps for unsuspecting burglers!"
Oh wait. You're actually an adult and can do whatever you want.

17.) Bands you went to watch and learnt dance routuine to, are now having reunions...
Oh, S Club 7 - you used to take pride and joy plastered as posters on my wall. But with S Club 3...well...you know, some things are just better left in the past, as a happy memory...
(Saying that, an official SClub7 Twitter account has just been verified - EXCITEMENT!)

18.) That Polly Pocket, isn't so pocket anymore...

And also, after 10 years after my favourite trio, The Powerpuff Girls, retired from the TV screen, they've made a return. But much to my disappointment, with a new and not so improved look....

19.) When you don't understand current trends...
So, is it a 'thing' for boys to wear t-shirts 5 sizes too big and jeans 2 sizes too tight nowadays?

20.) When you're closer to ticking the '+25' box than you are the '+18' that you've grown so so accustomed to...
As if filling in tedious forms wasn't depressing enough.

21.) When the re-packing or new versions of something you grew up with, just bamboozles you...

It's like that old saying: 'if it's not broke, don't fix it'. Now if someone was to hand me a new version of Bop It, I wouldn't even know how to play it, with 20 extra buttons on it.

22.) When you stop caring what other people think, and realise you're not always right...

Because there comes a time where you stop doing things to stop pleasing others, to be popular, or because it's cool. And you just do things because you like it and it makes you happy. Whether that's the kind of music you, the people you want as friends, the clothes you wear - you stop caring about what other people think about you, and start caring about yourself, and being proud about the person you're growing into - and that's undoubtedly one of the best things about getting older!

What things make you feel older than your age? And what do you love and miss from your past?

Let me know in the comments below!

Stay sassy & stay happy!

Until next time,

A.x