Today is my 18th birthday.
"I'M AN ADULT!" She screams, while running across a field aiming a squirt gun at her roommate. Yes, this is me. I'm quite proud of myself.
A lot has happened since my last birthday. I graduated high school, moved my family across a few states and moved to college. I've been an adult, at least unofficially, since I moved out and found myself suddenly alone half a country away from my family and anyone I ever knew. I've grown a ton.
Looking back on my life, there aren't a whole lot of things I regret. I've made some stupid choices here and there, but I don't really regret them.
Just kidding. I've made A LOT of stupid mistakes that still cause me to lose sleep at night while agonizing over them and berating myself for making them. SO many screwups. And yet...I don't know if I would trade the wisdom I've gained from them for anything, even if it means having to relive the embarrassment over and over again. I wish I had been smart enough to avoid the pitfalls in the first place, but I really appreciate how much I've grown from screwing things up. And looking back, the things I regret the most are the things I didn't do. When there was an opportunity before me to do something or learn something but I didn't take it or I didn't put myself out there because I was too scared to take a risk.
You know how most people make resolutions at the beginning of the year? I do the same thing then, but also on my birthday. This blog is one of my resolutions, to write more in volume, more in frequency, and to be more expressive in my writing.
I've also made a resolution to really live life to the fullest -- that seems abstract, but to me it means taking opportunities when they present themselves and being a little more willing to try new things and allow adaptations to my daily routine. My fondest memories have always been of random moments when I made split-second decisions. Like the time I helped my roommate stalk her ex-boyfriend in the wee hours of the morning, or the time I said yes to a first date that led to an invaluable friendship. And random decisions like that can lead to really interesting stories. And who doesn't want to be more interesting?
I could go more in depth on my plans for the year, but let's just leave it with this: this year is going to be great!
