24

Tomorrow I will turn 24. 24 isn't a significant number or age that I've been waiting on with great anticipation and it doesn't mark some great milestone. Really, It's just another year gone by; another day in July lived out similar to all the rest. But, I'll be honest, I like birthdays. I like the chance to stop and reflect and look back on another year of life in hopes that in that year I've done something worthwhile; something that will outlive me and make the world a better place. I like the small surprises from people who remembered its your birthday and call just to wish you a happy day. And I like having a birthday week and a birthday month and taking opportunities to do something nice for myself and use that as an excuse (I know I don't NEED another dress, but it is my birthday month after all ;-) )

I like setting aside a day to celebrate me; to celebrate all of the years that have lead up to this point in my life, knowing that I can't take a day or second of those years back but can use them to move into the future. I like thinking back on all of the special moments that I've had in my life and the people that I've met along the way that have helped me become the person that I am today. And I like celebrating all that I am, in the core of my being, and the person that I am becoming. A person who thinks and feels and cares. A person who dreams and loves and hurts. And a person who laughs and shares. Birthdays are a time to celebrate who I am and a time to realize that I am worth celebrating. Because if we're honest with ourselves, at the end of the day we're all that we have. And if I don't take care of myself, who will? If I don't appreciate myself, can I expect others to? If I don't love myself, how can I love you? Birthdays are a time to look back and appreciate the years and moments and people that make you who you are. But they're also a time to appreciate and celebrate you and your life.

There is a song called "24" by the group Switchfoot that has long been one of my favorite songs. As I turn 24, I listen to the song with a new found appreciation for many of the lyrics and the ability to let them speak to me in a whole new way. I'll share some of them with you here:

Twenty four oceans
Twenty four skies
Twenty four failures
Twenty four tries
Twenty four finds me
In twenty-fourth place
Twenty four drop outs
At the end of the day
Life is not what I thought it was
Twenty four hours ago

Twenty four reasons to admit that I'm wrong
With all my excuses still twenty four strong

And I'm not who I thought I was twenty four hours ago

And You're raising these twenty four voices
With twenty four hearts
With all of my symphonies
In twenty four parts
But I wan to be one today
Centered and true

I want to see miracles, see the world change
Wrestle the angel, for more than a name
For more than a feeling
For more than a cause

Twenty four voices
With twenty four hearts
With all of my symphonies
In twenty four parts.
I'm not copping out. Not copping out. Not copping out.

To me, this song is about living for more and being "centered and true" to ourselves with out "copping out". I don't want to cop out. Ever. And its okay when life isn't what I thought it was going to be just yesterday.And its even more okay for me to be a newer, better, different person today than I was yesterday. This part of my life is all about change. Its about finding out what I want for myself and for my life. It's about having new experiences and discovering parts of me I never knew existed. Its about finding out who I want to be and how I want to spend all of the days of the life that I have. And its so exciting to take on each new year, each new adventure, with open arms.

Tomorrow I will turn 24. I will spend the day celebrating the me that I am today. And even if it isn't your birthday, I hope that you will spend the day celebrating you as well. You are worth it, after all.