21st Birthday (Message of Gratitude)

I can't believe it's already been 21 years since I was born. Time sure flies when you're having fun… Or maybe time flies because of all the fun things I've done in my life so far? But here I am: another year is over, and it's time to celebrate!

I have had a lot of birthdays in my life. Some have been more special than others, but they're all special in their own way. Whether they were spent with friends or family members, around a campfire or at a restaurant, each of those days was an opportunity for me to reflect on what an incredible life I've lived so far, and how far I've come since the day of my birth.

And now? Now I'm here. At 21 years old. And what does that mean? Well... it means that I've made mistakes along the way—who hasn't?!—but also that each one of those mistakes has taught me something new about myself and about life in general. It means that even though there are still things out there for me to learn (and probably plenty more mistakes ahead), I can be proud of where I am today, because it took me all those years to get here!

I'm not going to lie: it's been a tough road, but I wouldn't change anything about my journey so far. It's been an intense couple of years and I've learned a lot along the way, but at the end of the day, my 20s have brought me to some pretty amazing places. They've brought me closer to my family, they've helped me find friends, and even introduced me to this platform.

It's hard to believe that three years ago, I was just beginning my first semester at college. My entire life was ahead of me, and all of these experiences were waiting for me like presents under a tree that no one had bothered to open yet. What would happen if I opened them? What would happen if I didn't?

I didn't know then what would happen... but here we are today! And here's what happened: I took risks, made mistakes, learned from those mistakes, and grew as a person because of them. With each new experience came new opportunities and new lessons—some good, some bad, but all part of the process of maturing into who I am today.

I feel like I’ve learned some great life lessons since turning 21 that have made me a happier person—and even though it was sad at first to realize my youth was ending, I’m glad that my birthday has reminded me to reflect on what I’ve learned so far.

I started thinking about things differently—and this is what I realized: growing up doesn’t have to mean growing away from the things that make you happy. In fact, it can mean doing more of those things. Being an adult wasn't really about being serious all the time. Sure, you have to take responsibility for yourself and do things like pay bills and save money for retirement—but you also get to make your own decisions! And you get to pick your own career! And you get to hang out with your friends whenever you want! I mean, life is great now that I'm an adult but it definitely took some getting used to at first. Either way, I hope that this year is even better than the last.

I’m so thankful for my life and the amazing people in it. I always knew that growing up was going to be hard, but I never could have guessed how hard it would be. The challenge of figuring out who you are, where you belong and what your purpose is can be daunting.

I’ve had some incredible opportunities over the past year that have helped me learn a lot about myself and what I want to do with my life. It’s been a whirlwind of emotion and growth, but one thing that has remained constant throughout all of this are my friends and family.

My family and friends have been there for me through everything. They've helped me stay on track with school and kept me sane during stressful moments. They are the reason why I am who I am today and why I can look forward to many more years of memories with them!

I'm also thankful for all of you who have read my story and supported me throughout this journey. It means so much to me that you took the time out of your day to read my story, even if only for a few minutes or seconds at a time! It really does mean a lot!

Thank you for being part of this journey with me!

I'm so excited for what lies ahead in my future. I know that this year will be full of new opportunities, challenges and amazing memories. The only thing I'm waiting for now is to see what happens next!