An Ode to 27

anodeto27

27. I must admit it seems surreal to have this number attached to my name today. Birthdays have always had varied meanings in my life. Maybe its the moments of reflection and melancholy that my past 20-something birthdays have permitted. There have been many birthdays where, if I were to be honest, they ended with tears. I don’t know what it is about birthdays, but there’s always something that makes you remember the past. When this happens, I have feelings that overwhelm me. Feelings full of regret, feelings that my year should have looked differently, and that my year was far from perfect. Far from what the dreams and hopes that I had desired. Maybe you’ve been there. I would spend my birthday night in my bed, thinking that another year had gone by and not much had changed. Granted my twenties have been full. Full of the good and the bad. Career changes, multiple moves, and rebuilding of communities have made my twenty-something years full of growth, change, and hard lessons.

26 it seems was no different. I must admit it is indeed a year I am beyond happy to leave in the books. It was a year full of hard change. Things are beginning to be restored from my 26th year and I trust that they will continue to be redeemed. I look back on my 26th year and have a greater understanding of pain. I know if it weren’t for it, I don’t know if I would have risked leaving the familiar and dared into the unknown, one of the dreams of my heart.

Today I will celebrate leaving this year behind. I celebrate fresh starts, new cultures,  opportunities, and adventures. I will share toasts at a dinner tonight with views of the mountains and new friendships that I cherish.  Our dinner will be filled with laughter, vulnerability, authenticity, and the night will probably close with an amazing dance party.

Cheers to a year of travel, exploring, late night talks under the stars, dinner parties, creative community, great cups of coffee, moments of belly laughter, summiting mountains, fighting for restoration, seeing  dreams fulfilled, seeing beauty in the mundane, and daring great feats.

27, I’m beginning to think you may just be great.

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