On Friday, I, NIamh Fitzsimons, am going to be 26. Its got me thinking, how the hell did all this time pass by so quickly. It feels like just yesterday, I was beginning school life and getting a Troll doll (the clown with red hair) for my troubles (Anyone else remember them? Just me?) Looking back those Trolls were pretty creepy.
When I was 16, I had my navel pierced. I still remember the day exactly, down to robbing my dads minature sample sized whisky bottles and necking one of them before getting it done because I reckoned it was going to hurt so much. I ended up laughing so hard that the girl pierced it a little lob sided but I didn’t mind. A couple of weeks ago, I finally took my bar out after almost 10 years of it. I felt old.
After spending the day at the beach, here in Australia, I saw an elderly woman with her navel bar still very much in her navel and as cool and down with the kids as she looked, I decided my naval piercing had had its day.
Is this the hardest thing about getting old? Looking around and realising you can’t do certain things or don’t want to portray yourself in a certain way? Once I didn’t care. Now though, I don’t care what others think about me, but I do care about how I portray myself.
When I was a teenager, I found myself experimenting with make up, hair colour, clothes, and now, when I look back, I realise how boring I’ve become in this regard. No more dying my hair pink or blue on a whim, although admittedly, I haven’t done that since my schooldays.
When did I get so old and boring?!
So, as I turn 26, I want to make a conscious effort to at least try and be a little bit more edgy in my clothes choices and a little less relaxed when it comes to wearing make up and choosing how to style my hair. By this, I mean actually wear make up sometimes. I loved wearing make up and experimenting and spent many, a long afternoon messing about in Debbie Leonards home make up studio trying different colours and looks out. But in Australia, not many people wear make up. At least, not where I live in Newcastle. So make up- I’m pledging allegiance to your awesomeness and will for the year of being 26, at least try to experiment once a week.
When I went home to Ireland, I had extensions put back in. I love long hair. Maybe though, its time for something new. Something shorter.
Life is too short, and while I won’t be putting my navel piercing back in, I will be spending the next year, a little more on the edge, at least when it comes to fashion and beauty. It’s too easy to sit back and let life pass you by, same old routine, same old make up. So I’m gonna say HELLLLLLO 26 with a bit of a change and try not to feel like it’s time to put on my slippers and sit in front of the fire!