29th[and]3rd

When I turned 25 I panicked. I became anxious. And the day after it didn’t go away. Weeks later I was still having panic attacks, getting anxious over all the things I didn’t have, hadn’t accomplished, couldn’t do. Basically I was having a quarter life crisis. People hated me for it.

Each year for the next 3 years I tried to pretend the 29th was just another day. On a good year it would come with only a Happy Birthday from family and close friends. Then it would just disappear and be the 30th. What a disservice I did to myself all those years.

I hadn’t really realized it until I heard Oprah describe how blessed she feels each year when she considers how many didn’t make it to another birthday. What a completely amazing thing to consider! Had I said 3 years ago “thank you for another year, because there are too many who never made it to 25” I would have a completely different perspective on birthdays. I would have celebrated with gratitude instead of wasting them in bitterness about another year older.

I’m blessed to have 29 to get it right; finally see it through a different set of lenses. Some less dusty and finger print smudged lenses.

And because there are truly are so many who never made it to or saw past 29 I’ve decided that my golden birthday post would be dedicated to them. So here’s a very special Happy Birthday to a few musicians as well as my cousin who didn’t have the blessing of more time.

Aaliyah, Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Selena, Jimi Hendrix, Lisa Left Eye Lopes, Nanette.

Time is something we take for granted. “There is always tomorrow”, “Don’t rush it, you have time”, “I’ll do it later”, we say them all the time and really none are true. The only truth about time is that tomorrow is promised to no one. This year when I blow out the candles the one thing I’ll be wishing for is the ability to take full advantage of time. Whether that be 30 seconds, 5 hours or another decade, each moment is an opportunity for me to further my purpose, express myself, help someone or accomplish something. I will remain present in each of those moments.

I won’t continue to take time for granted by holding my years against me. Here’s to another year, and many more!

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Are you the celebrate all month-long birthday girl or the pretend they don’t exist type? Share your birthday memories and revelations with us in the comments section!