wiser, too

There are so many things that I am not.
But, today, I am 26.



26 is a special one for me. It's the one I imagined having my first baby. It's the one I'd be settled and sure of who I was. I probably hoped to be rich & successful somewhere there too. It was THE one. ya know? But I'm not a mother (and won't likely be anytime soon). I certainly am not satisfied or settled. I'm not those things and the oddest part is, I've really come to peace with the haves and the have nots of my existence so far. My life is pretty damn great. I've grown closer to my family. Love Brando more and weirder than ever. And I'm really starting to like myself too. I've got a cute little house to live in and a Christmas tree with big bulbs on it that nearly makes me cry every time I look at it. I have lovely art hanging on my walls and the remnants of homemade Christmas gifts scattered on the floor. I've been parting with possessions to make more room for relationships and in the process, have almost stopped caring about "things" in general, coming up with a birthday/christmas wish list has been a real challenge. "um...tupperware?" (I must be getting older).  I'm being braver and making friends. Meaning, I'm acting more like a child and going after the people I want in my life. Like, I might have actually asked someone "do you want to be friends?" So far it's working. Kids are smart that way. I've worked a million more jobs still wondering which one is going to be just right for me, though every one of them pieces me together a bit better. I've had a few health hiccups but my head and heart have been stronger this time around. I can take it. I can handle it. I have absolutely zero idea what our future holds. The "who" "whats" "when" "wheres" and "whys" are all clouded with the "right now"s and for the first time in a really long time, I can say that to people without the slightest bit of embarrassment. I joke that we'll be living in a van down by the river someday and a secret part of me actually likes the sound of that. I haven't left Utah in over a year which makes the dream for travel even stronger and sweeter. Had there not be a big snow fall last night I might have spent my morning driving to Arizona just to cross the border. And how about that snow?! I mean, it's lovely but I haven't left my house yet. Which is fine cause it's my birthday and I've got all my time to myself anyway.  These are my ramblings as a twenty-six year old. I think the only real thing one can wish for on their birthday is that they are, in fact, wiser. I think I am, and what could be better than that?

Photo by Heather Nan making me look way cooler than I really am.