When did I get so old?

I am a ripe old age of 29? That doesn't even sound right. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that 29 was old. I mean its older than 21 or 28 but OLD wasn't supposed to come to me until I was 30. ( Just a little to joke to all of my 30+ year old friends. =)) I just never believed that I would be the oldest person in the room. I know that I can't always be in my 20's and I have come to terms with that. I know it sounds petty; but I just wanted to retain the number in order to keep my youth. But I have come to realize that it has nothing to do with numbers but a youthful spirit.
Having come to terms with my numbers climbing, I started to notice the true differences in my attitude verses those who are just a few years my junior. For example, I am the oldest person at my job. I think I only got to the third interview because of my youthful spirit because I really am at least 3 years older than everyone else. I didn't think it was such a big deal because 3 years is nothing. I have come to realize that those three years are more like 10 for me. I won't go into details, but truly three years makes a difference.
I am not saying anything bad about them, it is just that their motivations and attitudes are so different than mine.
Following are the reasons I believe that I am so much older at the ripe age of 29.
1. I love to work. I think that working hard and working well are reasons to feel proud of myself. I am not sure that this mentality is always shared amongst those in their early 20's. I remember working simply to make money. I also recall doing the bare minimum simply to avoid getting into trouble. I loved to have the cash to buy new clothes, cigarettes, and go out partying. Now I think more about breaking even with childcare, and building my resume through hard work and determination.
2. I like to follow the rules. In the past few years, I began to realize that often rules are there for a reason. Following the rules not only can keep you out of trouble, but it can make you successful. Making sure that I am on time, in uniform, and that I am prepared are all very important to me. Is this a sign of maturity? I think, but I also that that when those in their early 20's don't do those things, it isn't in-maturity. It is more likely forgetfulness or simply a plan to undermine authority.
3.I make sure that I am well rested. I have noticed that those in their 20's or even their 30's stay up too late. I don't judge, I just don't know how they do it. My hubby is really bad about this, he won't go to bed until midnight and then get up at 7 ish. Then he's tired. Why not go to bed? I get tired, I go to bed. Now occasionally I do stay up, but if I have somewhere to be the next morning; I stay up with the full knowledge that I am going to be exhausted the next day. But why stay up just to watch TV, goof around on the Internet, or play video games? I guess to me the cons far outweigh the pros of that scenario.
4.I am married. I really think this ages a person. I didn't realize how unusual it is to be married in my 20's until I got out into the real world. I wouldn't have noticed before, because 99% of my friends are married. Soon to be 100% in the summer because Becky found her Ryan. So in the organization that I work, I am the only one married. It seems weird only because I have been married for 8 years already. Maybe I am weird. I was lucky to find my soul mate at 15 and needed to marry only because I wanted to. This kind of commitment is a huge burst in maturity and therefore age. I have promised, at the ripe old age of 29, to continue to be committed to my husband for the REST of my life, and I am glad to do it. I think that the commitment does age you but so does having concern about another person. So much so that you have to defer to them sometimes, consider them in your decision making, and make sure that you are there for them both physically and emotionally. All things that I would have lacked in my 20's had I not been married.
5. Kids. Need I say more. I feel 10 years older every day. I may already be over 100.

I love the people I work with. Being in this organization will keep me young spirited. I just never realized that I would be the old one, I had it in my head that I would always be the youngest in any given group. For now, I will have to deal with just being eternally and infinitely younger than my nearly 31 year old husband. =) Love ya babe!