At the Middle of it

"What do single women of 25 do?," Maurine, my college friend, asked me when we had a chat last night. I paused for a while and realized my mind was blank. I didn't have an answer. I merely sighed and told her I didn't know really.

So, I started looking at my friends' pages at social networking sites especially Friendster. Most of my friends who were likely my age got married earlier than 25. Even some of them now have two kids of their own.

First of all, I am clueless! and maybe so did Maurine. Sure, Maurine and me have our own significant someones but in a few months, I'm not sure yet if there will be wedding bells ringing for us.

I've already thought about doing many important things when I reach this age. (It sounds unfair that after seven days of celebrating the new year, my birthday also pops out as another event.) Plans like travel, have a gift for myself and maybe a mortgage on a house and lot have been on my list. And now, it's September, I feel as if I have not bought something really good for myself. Where did all my money go?

In many countries, especially in the US, social independence is often practice among women. Perhaps about half of the population is likely composed of single women.

In contrast, considering the cultural differences here in the Philippines, where the family practice interdependence, only few of the single women really had the chance to do what they want to do. Mostly, single women here would try to help the family as long as they can especially on financial obligations. This kind of help would go on until it becomes a pressure, a responsibility. First, you would help in paying the bills, and then the next you realize you would also be paying for your younger brother's tuition fees and then you would be giving him his day-to-day allowances. Then one day, you'll find yourself broke. A typical situation, I guess. So savings are likely to be postponed most of the time.

I, for instance, have this simple yet complicated situation in my family of three. We have no parents, just us three sisters helping each other to implement the word "survival" everyday. Maurine, on the other hand, has her own unexplainable situation in her family too. We were two of the single women who also didn't get the chance of going out to parties or events with some friends (Friends have gotten busier these days or maybe we just chose to rather stay at home...)

But this should not be discouraging me on getting what I want. Maybe at this stage, I'm just caught in between the moment of wanting to break free and meeting the deadline of up-to-5o-only lifespan. Of course, celebrating another year after 50 is what people say "life begins". There are lots of options really, I only need a little more time to know what I want to do or become at least five years after. For now, I just want to enjoy what life may bring me.

All I need is time management, a very flexible savings method and a definite plan--with or without marriage. :)

That's what I should tell Maurine. ;p