Goodbye, 34

If 33 was my Jesus year, does that mean that this year is my resurrection? It’s interesting because I had no expectations for my 34th. I had settled in to my mid-30s — blessed with work and incredibly grateful for friends and family. I also welcome my first ever “relationship” and I say that with quotation marks because honestly, I still can’t believe it’s real.

I don’t talk about it much because I don’t want it to be the single thing I’m defined by now, but it’s been an interesting ride to say the least. I am grateful for it. I record this, not from my usual space — at home by myself, but instead, after a surprise dinner — not birthday related and after working on a project that I didn’t think I’d be involved in.

The past year, has clearly been a surprise to me. One where I’m truly living day to day and still not being able to plan much into the future — both because of COVID-19 (yes, it’s still around) and because I’m not just planning by myself now. It’s good that I’ve always been about the calendar and it looks like I’m not the only one.

There is still so much to be grateful for. Health being one of them — not just for myself but for my loved ones. I realize as I get “older” that my loved ones as a catch-all phrase has just expanded from family and friends to a partner whom I’m still surprised to have. And I’m grateful for every single moment, even if in the moment, sometimes I’m not sure.

So here’s to a surprising 34th year. May the 35th be just like this one or even better (I vote for the latter!).