On Birthdays, and a Reflection on 2025 so far

A (possible) Chanterelle mushroom, somewhere in Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Tennessee

   I am getting older. I celebrated my 27th birthday on the 19th, and with that I felt a certain weight place its fingertips gently on my shoulders. My young adult life was (and is, I recognize that 27 is not old) filled to the brim with adventure, a clumsy and new-found lust for living, and many, many mistakes. It seems to so many young people that they are invincible, and with the brash rush of life and freedom one receives when leaving their parents' nest for the first time, they truly do test the limits of their vitality. 

   It's hard to think about the future realistically, especially when the environment in the U.S. is the way that it is. As I gain more experience and try things, I'm realizing that I'm beginning to really appreciate financial literacy, and the idea of not living paycheck to paycheck. I'm wondering if my efforts on social media will ever be rewarded by allowing me to be compensated for the effort I make to produce beautiful & authentic content. I wonder if I'll ever make a living being an artist, or if I'll survive the grind of the young opera singer. 

  When your life looks like mine, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel at times. Still, even during my darkest thoughts, the tiniest warmth in my chest glows like a tea candle. Gone are the days of teenage hopelessness; my years have taught me that life doesn't end without cause, and that-even if my sight is hazy-moving forward is the only option. Hope. There will always be something to move towards, no matter what the weight pressing you deeper into the mud tries to make you think. 

​   Dear Reader, I wonder what your 27th year looked (or will look) like. Did you transition into a more mature way of moving about the world, or did you continue to relish in the beautiful disaster that are our 20's? Will it get better, will I be happy?

   I suppose the only one who can answer those will be me.

   These first two months of 2025 have felt like an eternity. The world is on fire, and it can be hard to stay grounded when we are constantly accosted with the horrid. With my content (even somewhat sour blog entries like this) I hope to give you a break from the chaos, the constant barrage of yelling and color and quickness of the social media feed. I hope what I bring is an opportunity to slow down and to appreciate what life has to offer.

   Despite it all, we're still here, aren't we? 

   

A self-portrait on my 27th birthday. Nashville, Tennessee