Another Year Closer to 30…
Tomorrow is my birthday, and I turn another year older.
It's safe to say that I'm another year closer to 30 than I was to 20.
As much as I thought I would dread aging, it really isn't that bad.
Well, I already had the massive mental breakdown as soon as I turned 25, so I think every birthday after that would be a little less dramatic — I'm hoping, at least.
Yesterday I was on a call with my friend, and she asked, "How do you feel about growing older?"
I thought about the answer to this question because I wanted to know how I really felt.
How do I feel about growing older?
Frankly, I don't feel that much older — I know, everybody says that.
But I don't.
I looked back at what my life was like in my early twenties, and as much as I was traveling, I was broke with no money to my name. I had no idea how I would start my writing career, and I was working a minimum wage restaurant job in New York.
The latter part sounds like a typical New York storyline, and I did enjoy my time in the city.
Although it was also immensely stressful, yet that part of my life also shaped how I matured and grew.
I thought I had to have everything figured out by the time I turned 21, but boy, I was wrong.
Sure, we were young, and we had so much energy.
On New Year's Eve 2018, I went to a gallery on the Upper East Side to party and celebrate the new year. We stayed up all night, and then I had to go back home to get ready for my 08:00 shift because it was one of the busiest times to be in New York, and the restaurant I was working at needed all hands on deck.
I still don't know how I did that because now, if I stayed up past 23:00, my eyes would be so droopy and I would be so tired the next day. Heh.
Don't get me wrong, I loved my early twenties, but I was reckless, and I had no idea what I would do with my life.
Then my mid-twenties were spent in isolation — thanks to the pandemic.
The time spent in isolation was used to build up my writing portfolio and successfully kickstart my freelance writing career. It was great, and I wouldn't be able to do it if I weren't at home 24/7.
I did enjoy my mid-twenties; these years were spent slowly building the life I wanted for myself and the life that I thought I deserved.
I did these things for my future, and I couldn't be happier.
Now that I am stepping into my late twenties, I'm not afraid to say that I'm happier than I've ever been and can't wait to see the rest of my adult life unfold.
I mean, isn't it exciting?
My life is beginning, and it's just getting better.
I want to be able to see and experience what life has to offer, and I want to be able to enjoy everything.
Turning a year older is a privilege that not many people have, but I'm glad that I get to do it.
I know that aging is a susceptible topic, and most people don't really like talking about it — it's normal.
Although, it's also time to normalize how beautiful aging is.
As tomorrow comes, I turn a year older, and I can't wait to see what this new year has to offer.
