My 27th birthday was my second birthday celebrated in the throws of the global pandemic. Like so many I’ve have felt the quiet anger of the loss of two years of my 20’s. The years that are considered your prime, the time to build, and enjoy the fruits that youth has to offer. I had so many plans to be young, dumb and brimming with disposable income. Plans to be a walking definition of hot girl summer and christian girl autumn in equal measure. Then suddenly it was all taken away. I was stuck indoors. I watched plans to travel dwindle to desperate hopes, replaced with a new and definitive feeling that I was running out of time. Running out of time to do everything I wanted to do with my life.
I told my friend about my worries and my new sense of despondence, and she looked at me as she always does, frowned and said ‘but have you celebrated where you are now?’. In truth, I hadn’t. I was too busy looking forward to appreciate what had already been. In an everlasting rush to reach the next goal, see the next sights, visit the next place. My mind ever focused on what was next, never taking a moment to enjoy the goals, the sights and places. In my haste to meet what was coming, I was missing out on what was already here.
So, in that vein, I’m choosing to spend my 27th year enjoying the now.
