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Today is my 26th birthday.
To start this celebration on the most depressing note I can think of:
- If my fate is the same as my mom’s (and her mom’s) that means I’m now officially over halfway through my life.
- If I hit the average U.S. life expectancy for a woman that means I’m almost exactly one-third (33%) through with my life.
That said, I feel deeply grateful to be alive today. Not everyone makes it to 26, and I’ll be damned if I squander it wondering when I’m going to die.
I only share this thought because I think it’s important to remember — that we are all headed towards the same end zone. Milestones like birthdays are only important in so much that they give us a reason (however arbitrary) to reassess and redesign.
On every birthday in my twenties I’ve reread this email from my mom:
The words: “everyday with you is a best day for me” get me every time, but that’s besides the point.
The quote in subject line is what I’m after:
“At 20, everything is possible and tomorrow looks friendly.” — Jim Bishop
