birthday

25.

Every birthday, I can’t help but fear not having accomplished enough with my life to warrant turning another year older. This year, I had been feeling even less festive about the whole thing because I had anticipated being alone on my birthday, given the fact that I had just moved to NYC a mere few months ago and was currently slammed with a ton of semester-end final projects. But last weekend, I celebrated turning a quarter century old, and it was much more than I could have ever asked for.

It’s human nature to seek out new friendships in an unfamiliar setting, but what blew me away was the kind of people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made here in the city. From expanding my imagination to inspiring a new perspective on everything I’ve come to known, people have flitted in and out of my life on a daily basis but have left a lasting imprint. New and even some old friends continue to push me with their creative minds and astound me with their generous hearts. And last weekend, through brunch, cocktails, handwritten cards, thoughtful little gifts, and even baking my favorite cake and flying into the city to visit – all in addition to a deluge of happy texts, emails, and messages on social media – I was reminded again and again how incredibly lucky I am to have things that many people pray for. We live in such a short life within a crazy world where we often get so immersed in our own problems and every little trivial thing, so if there’s one thing I hope you’ll take away from this post, it’s to always treasure those who think of you and go out of their way to make time for you.

To everyone I’ve met through this blog and on Instagram, to friends old and new – a million thank you’s for including me in your lives. Here’s to 25!