Life, Chapter 3.

A friend of mine had a birthday recently; as we were talking about how she was planning on celebrating, she revealed that she felt a little bit nervous about turning 22 and that it made her feel old. While letting go of your childhood can be scary, it can also be really exciting. It may be the end of one thing, but it's the start of a whole new chapter. The third chapter. It's the longest, but if you do it right, its also the best.

Let's break down each chapter individually:

Chapter 1, Childhood, Age 0-15: This is the chapter that really forms who you're going to be in the future. You start out not really knowing anything, so everything is new and interesting. Anything people tell you is generally taken as fact, which can make for embarrassing situations, the scars from which will eventually lead you down a path of self-medication.

Chapter 2, The Teen Years, Age 16-20: By this point you've probably decided who you're going to be, maybe even what you want to do after high school. You just discovered how to drive and how to drink, but you think you're way better at both of those things than you actually are.

Chapter 3, Adulthood, Age 21-45: There is some dispute as to the age this actually ends so it really depends on the person, but there is no arguing that it starts at 21. When you turn 21 in America it opens up a whole new world. Businesses that were previously off-limits start to welcome you with open arms, and you love when someone asks to see your ID because you have nothing to hide; welcome to the world of drinking legally. Gone are the days of being stuck at a terrible house party because it's the only option, just bail and go to a club and party with a group of complete strangers! I admit there are some downsides; having to pay bills and rent, worrying about a job, having to manage your time appropriately between partying and "being responsible," etc. But those things are a small price to pay, for the freedom of being a single, young adult.

Chapter 4, The End, Age 45-?: People often look upon the end as being a negative thing, but just because it is the final chapter does not mean all your good times are behind you. At this point you're probably settled down or are at least old enough that your sex drive does not overrule the rational decision making part of your brain so you're able to focus on your career, retirement, and going out on top. And once you make it to retirement, you are pretty much all set to just spend the rest of your life relaxing and spending all the loot you've accumulated through 50 years of hard work.