The first eight years of my life I lived as an only child in a small apartment complex with my mom.  There were 25 units and 75% were occupied by senior citizens.  There were no other kids in the complex, or in the neighborhood.  I developed respect and love for the elderly at a very young age.  I remember making the rounds and visiting my elderly neighbors.  Sometimes we would play games, eat snacks, watch TV or just chat.  I think they enjoyed my visits, and I certainly enjoyed my time with them.

I always felt older than my actual age.  I grew up quick and matured much faster than the average kid.  I started my very first job when I was 14.  An actual job, not babysitting (I started babysitting when I was eight). It was a small espresso and panini shop.  I worked there every Saturday from 9:00 am– 6:00 pm….by myself.  I opened the shop, handled all orders for the day and then closed and calculated the sales and the deposit.  Looking back, I am not sure why the owner trusted a 14-year-old to run her café.  But I did it and I did it well.  Unfortunately, the café ended up going out of business five or six months after I started working there.  Before I was out of work, I was recruited by the owner of a frozen yogurt shop (they also had ice cream and a deli).  The frozen yogurt shop was perfect….it was walking distance from our apartment and my high school, plus I was a frozen yogurt and ice cream fanatic.  Talk about a win-win!  I worked there for nearly two years, sadly they also went out of business (are we seeing a pattern here LOL).

Less than two weeks after the yogurt shop closed, I was hired at Godfather’s Pizza.  Also walking distance from our apartment and school.  I ended up working at Godfather’s all through high school and one year after high school.  As soon as I turned 18, they promoted me to Shift Lead and not long after that I was promoted to Assistant Manager.  I don’t think I ever called in sick.  I looked forward to going to work.  I had an extremely strong work ethic at a very young age.  I really enjoyed my time there, but I knew it could not be a career.

I have always related more to folks older than myself.  I had (and have) very few friends who were my age.  Most of the kids in school I found to be extremely immature.  Looking back, I realize they were just acting their age and it was me that was the odd duck.  I did have a few close friends in high school, but when I say a few, I truly mean a few.  The rest of my friends during high school were in their 20’s.   Here I am now at 42 and the previous sentence still is true.  I have a couple friends my age, but most range from 6-20 years older.

It’s not just the age of my friends that make me an old soul.  It’salso my preference in music and my mindset when it comes to morals and respect.  I grew up listening to 70’s and 80’s rock and that genre is still my go-to.  I never get tired of it.  I do enjoy other genres, but 70’s and 80’s will always be my jam.

I am a fur mom and chose not to have a human child.  If things were different and I opted for a human mini-me, I know that my parenting style would differ than most these days.  I’d be extremely strict, and probably nicknamed Mean Mommy.  There would be no cell phone until an appropriate age and absolutely no social media.  Luckily, I will not have to deal with it, but it is something I think about on rare occasions.

I still have a mindset of how things were 20-30 years ago.  You know, people had respect for one another, and morals still existed.  People also took the time to pick up a phone and actually talk to one another.  Nowadays, everyone always has their head down, glued to their cell phone.  I’m not saying I am not guilty of it, but when I really think about it….it’s not a good habit.

The world has evolved and maybe I have not.  But is that so wrong?  Frankly, I’m not too impressed with the world we live in today.  Things were so much simpler 20+ years ago.  Do any of you relate to this?  If so, leave a comment.  I’d love to hear your story.