When I was a teenager I always pictured two ‘cool ages’ in my future. One was 24 and the other was 27. The selection of these ages appears to have been arbitrary (although I did have a very cool teacher in grade five who was 27, so perhaps she was my inspiration).

My 24 self would be cool, confident, glamorous and out there doing her ‘thing’.  My teenage brain had no details about where the ‘where’ would be or what my ‘thing’ would entail.

By 27 I would be even cooler (obviously), have travelled extensively, might have got myself a serious boyfriend and would be holding down an incredibly successful, high-level executive career. I wasn’t specific about the profession.

Unfortunately, my teenage-self wasn’t quite on the money. By 24 I definitely wasn’t cool or overly confident (although I was damn good at pretending). As for glamorous, well, I wasn’t quite that either (an aunt once said my white cardigan looked like something a nurse would wear…this was probably a good illustration of my lack of fashion prowess).

I was however, married. This was never part of my teenage plan and many old high-school friends were definitely surprised I’d settled down so quickly.

By 27 I had finally worked out which profession I wanted to work in and had taken my first steps on the public relations ladder. I was still married.

I had been overseas but three weeks on a Contiki tour probably doesn’t count as extensive travel.

I was definitely not cool or high-flying. In fact, I’d decided it was far more important to be taken seriously than anything else. This meant sensible hair, sensible shoes and rather serious suits were the order of the day.

So I guess my teenage self didn’t quite get it right. She had stars in her eyes and possibly a truckload of naiveté and hope guiding her future plans.

She might be a little comforted though with the knowledge that post-27 I did work in some high-level jobs and I have travelled a lot. I’m also confident (usually) and she might even think I’ve occasionally met the cool and glamorous standards she set in her mind.

I doubt she ever considered what she would be doing at 40. That age would have seemed incredibly ancient and wrinkly to her.

But I don’t think I’m that old and I’m definitely not wrinkly yet. And I still think there a few more unexpected and unplanned adventures in my future.

So I guess this 40 year old, with stars in her eyes and a small wheelbarrow of naiveté and hope will have to make her own plans for the next 10 years.