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This weekend I turned 27.
It was a quiet day. I didn’t post on Instagram about it or throw a lavish party for myself. I drank really good coffee, went climbing with my girlfriend, and decorated our new apartment.
My philosophy on birthdays is complicated. Always has been. On the one hand, I think we place an overemphasis on aging. On the other, I think growing older is something to be celebrated. It’s a damn gift to be alive.
Birthdays to me are intensely personal, almost spiritual. They are a day to reflect on what it means to be here on this planet, spinning on its axis and rotating around the sun.
Last year on my 26th birthday, I wrote an article called 26 Lessons in 26 Years On Planet Earth. It was one of the first tastes I ever got of “virality” and by that, I just mean — people who didn’t know me personally… read it. I felt famous.
This article is my follow up. 27 new lessons to commence my 27th year. My reflection on the year behind…
I’ll be honest, this year was tough. I hit the lowest low I’ve ever hit. And I was tested more than I ever have been. But it’s also been an intensely beautiful year. I’ve had some major life changes and learned just how resilient the human mind and body truly are.
