I’ve been staring at this blank page, trying to think of some sort of witty opening sentence for a blog post about my 21st birthday today, but nothing is coming to mind. It’s funny how things just seem to escape you once you try putting them into words, when other times they just come pouring out. Last night I was up till 1 in the morning, lying in bed and brainstorming possible titles.
I thought about maybe doing a post on 21 Things I’ve Learned in 21 Years or 21 Drinks I’ll Drink in the Next 21 Days (lol but really) or 21 Things I’m Going to do In My 21st Year (VEGAAAAS), but to be honest, turning 21 is a little bit of a sobering thought for me. {side note: how funny was that unintentional pun? SOBERING? Except 21 and whatnot… no? Just me? I laughed 😉 }
I guess my trepidation comes with the undeniable fact that I’m growing up. Time simultaneously goes by so slowly, yet so quickly, and all of a sudden life comes by and slaps you in the face and you’re not a little kid running around the playground anymore. And then BOOM. Life comes by again and you’re at your high school graduation saying goodbye to all of your childhood friends and leaving your hometown behind for new friend, adventures, and memories in college. And then WHAM. You’re 21 and now a senior in college and have one year left before becoming a “real person” in a very big world.
That’s scary to me.
It’s scary to me because I often feel like I’m not living enough. I’m not soaking up each and every moment and holding on to it tightly enough. I want to be more present. There are instances where I wish I could go back in time and whisper to myself to remember this moment, this sunset, that second of laughter with a friend over coffee, or that feeling of exhilaration from flying high when my dad bounced me on that trampoline. Little things like the excited anticipation that buzzed around my cousins and I around Christmas time as we waited to open our presents and how nervous I felt on my first date with Kyle. The years are flashing by so, so quickly and I just want to hold tightly to each and every special moment.
Now that I think about it, I guess that’s why I’m so smitten by photography. Where certain memories fail me, I can look back at a snapshot from that time and remember. I guess I’m a hopeless romantic when it comes to memories.
That’s the nervous side of me.
I’m intimidated by the thought of losing the past, but to counter that, I’m also pretty freaking excited to see where the future takes me. My senior year of college is going to be amazing. I’m going to graduate and, even though I’ll be a little fish in a big ocean, I’ll find myself. I have a fantastic group of friends who I know will be by my side for the rest of my life, the love of my life (corny, but true) who will be taking on this crazy world with me, and a tight-knit family that I can always fall back on if things don’t turn out the way I expect. The future is bright and I’m ready to tackle it head on!
And I shouldn’t forget to mention that now I can start experimenting with different drink recipes for the blog. I’ve been more excited about that than I probably should be… TWENTY-FUN WOOOOO!
So there are my big-girl thoughts on turning the big twenty-one today.
Lot of emotions, but I’m going to ignore all the worries and enjoy a relaxing day and a night filled with margaritas. Cheers!
Happy Birthday Girly! Wishing you many blessings, more memories, and
More happiness! Everything is falling into place. Hope its a beautiful day
For you!
Ahhh chica–you’re only 21! You’re so young! Don’t worry about growing up yet. <<that's what I tell myself anyway. I do think we all worry about not living in the present though so I feel you on that. It's a constant work in progress. YAY for drink recipes though and i hope you have a great 21st birthday [weekend]!
Happy birthday!! Hope you celebrate in style. It’s all uphill from here, girl!
Happy Birthday!!! I feel the same way about losing the memories and the time going to quickly before I have a moment to actually life and appreciate it!
Happyyy Birthayyyy!! I feel the same way about some of my memories. I always wish I would have paid more attention to certain moments. But now we’re more conscious of how precious things like that can be! Have a wonderful weekends and enjoy some margaritas!
Happy birthday, girl! I hope your 21st is as fabulous as you are and I’m so excited to see where your future will take you- you’re unbelievably talented, smart, and fun, and I have no doubt that you excel in whatever you end up doing
Happy birthday, gorgeous! <3 I hope you have an amazing day, and an even more amazing year. And girl… I definitely don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to finding yourself. You're such an amazing person with so much talent — you're going to rock socks off no matter what. There's just no other option 😛
Happy Birthday! Be safe and have a BAH-LAST!
Girl, I think any 21 year old would be blessed to have their head on as straight as you do! You are amazing! Happy, happy, happy birthday!!! Have fun celebrating, and of course be safe!
Happy birthday, love!!! This was so beautifully written, and I felt the same exact way. Just keep your chin up and you will do amazing things in life, I know it.
Hope you gave a wonderful 21st Birthday. You give so much to your Blog Readers everyday that you deserve all the riches and wishes life has to offer!
Peggy ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you SO much, Peggy! You are so sweet and your kind words mean the world to me
Happy Birthday to you Christine!! The years ahead of you will be fabulous, I just know it. Hope your 21st is the best birthday yet!
happy 21st pretty girl!!! ENJOY yourself! xoxo
Happy Birthday, Christine! Time does go too fast and it’s a little scary, but it’s also exciting. I can’t wait to see where your passions take you – you’re so talented and I’m sure you’ll do fabulous things!
Thank you Ellen! You are so sweet
Happy birthday!!! I feel like you’ve accomplished so much, that it’s easy to forget (as a reader) that you’re still so young!
(that makes me sound like an old fart though)
Have fun celebrating!
Jackie
Something About That
I think just the fact that you realize that you should hang on to the moments of your life now, just shows that you are living life right! One thing I love about blogging is seeing these moments and being able to go back and read how you were feeling, and what was going on, and seeing how you have grown from your first post to today! Enjoy your last year in college, and Happy 21st girl
Thanks, Hilary!
I totally agree with your sentiments on blogging. Being able to see what I was up to three years ago is such a blessing!
Happy BIRTHDAY!!! For some reason I always thought you were older than 21?! Which doesn’t really make sense now that I think about it because ya know…you’re in college and all that!
Anyways, ENJOY!!
Thanks, Autumn!
I actually get that a lot haha. Not sure why. Maybe I am just mature for my age 😉 (which is a total joke hahaha).