Birthdays are special celebrations that remind us that we are getting older but also how far we’ve grown in the past year. On March 19, I will be 20-years-old and will no longer be considered a teenager. I love my birthdays, yet I had never thought of them as particularly special or important. However, this year feels different.
I look at 20 as a special year. A few days ago, I was in the mirror and I said to myself, “Dang girl, you’re going to be 20 in three weeks.” At that moment, I was filled with so many emotions. First, I feel truly blessed to be alive another year. I’m also excited to celebrate yet a little sad that some of the people I love aren’t here to celebrate with me. But mostly, I feel anxious as I don’t know what to expect.
This is a new chapter that I will soon enter, and lots of things are going to happen. In my twenties, I will graduate college, move to a new city, start a career, buy a house, possibly get married and become a mother. These are all the things I’ve ever wanted and dreamed of, but it feels a little scary that everything I’ve dreamed of is going to come true and will all happen very soon.
I can’t help but think about how just 10 years ago I was only 10-years-old. I keep questioning if I’m ready for it all, and to be honest, no, I’m not ready. But I know it’s going to happen regardless if I’m ready or not. I came to the realization that we will spend more of our lives as an adult than we will as a child. So, I should not be afraid of growing up and entering adulthood. The unexpected is coming. This new chapter may seem scary at first, but new things always feel scary at first.
I think this will be an exciting time. I can’t wait to see what I will all accomplish in my twenties. I am slightly panicking. I don’t know what to expect. I’m not ready for everything that I will face in my twenties, but let’s be honest, who is? I wish I could rewind or hit the pause button because life seems as if it’s going by really fast. But that is why I want to make sure that I enjoy life.
I want to laugh more, love myself more and embrace every moment including the good, the bad, the scary and embarrassing moments. I know I will make mistakes. I know everything won’t go as planned. But I won’t be alone as I will be surrounded by many 20-something-year-olds dealing with similar struggles. But I’m ready to face it all. I’m ready to create new experiences, travel around the world and make everlasting memories. So, cheers to 20.
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