Time stops for no one and no reason, tomorrow , against my better judgement, I shall turn 24. This time last year I was boarding a plane to Scotland for the world Pipeband championships, I was falling madly in love, I was working with people who had become family, and hoping that I’d get my shit together by 24 because clearly I hadn’t at 23. In my 23rd year I learned about my own family and became a part of other people’s, I was discovering what it truly meant to care about another person and just how profound loss can feel , and recently I became so aware of how powerful support from the people who love you is, and how despite the cliche of it all life is so fragile- that we aren’t guaranteed anything, another day and more time aren’t promised to us, making the most of not just 24 as a whole , but every day month and year going forward is something I need to do. If 24 is going to be my year I have to let go of all the bad, and take with me the lessons learned, obstacles crawled through, and love received. I have to allow myself to be alone, to let the past die and turn my face to the sun and realize that I have two perfectly good feet to stand on, and that I don’t always have to be my own worst critic. This year brought me incredible love and incredible heartbreak, it brought me thousands of miles on my car,it brought me loyal friends and open heart surgery, it brought me Guinness with chambord, it brought me the discovery of an excellent acne cream and a new favorite sunscreen, and a ton of memories (some fuzzy) involving kilts and bagpipes, it brought me Glasgow and stirling and getting kicked out of nightclubs, it brought me additional parents and siblings and bruises and pizza. 23 showed me that if you let it be open your entire corner will fill with people from all walks of your life who can offer their own perspective and help, you just have to be willing to let them. I have a whole wide world ahead of me and tomorrow is just proof that I made it this far already, no turning back now. Besides, nobody likes you when youre 23
