Birthday post calls for some kind of reflection, eh? Or some kind of 'trudging down the memory lane'. Or maybe not. I'm turning 23 in a few hours' time. As the years go past, I become less and less excited over these birthday affairs, because a few realizations hit me growing up (and old) doesn't happen overnight, and age is neither a good indicator nor factor in determining the level of wisdom. Constantly pushing oneself is a better bet.

Birthdays are reminders. Reminders for me to cherish every single day that I wake up healthy, even if I'm sluggish, or feeling lazy. They remind me that I'm surrounded by family, friends and my significant other who will always be there for me when I need them. I'm not expressive with my words - the most expressive you'll ever see me is with words, here or otherwise, but I don't say it often enough or as often as I feel that. And they always make me feel like I'm the luckiest person ever. You know who you all are :))))

Birthdays are obviously reminders that I'm growing older, and thus, I should be braver, I would take the opportunities that I used to shrink away from in fear, that I should keep challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone... keep growing, not older, but more fearless... start living.

In the past year, I've grown more aware that the universe doesn't give you what you ask for with your thoughts, it gives you what you demand with your actions, that I'm the master of my own destiny, and that going off the tried-and-beaten path may mean not gaining understanding for what you do, but it doesn't mean it's wrong. And that doing something that scares you or something different everyday is not some hipster quote but a difficult daily goal, that is extremely fulfilling... keep living.

I have done the most travelling in the past twelve months that I have ever done in the same period of time, and probably the most exciting time of my life (yet. as I would like to think, though realistically probably not anymore in the near future), opening my eyes to see how big the world is, how diverse and beautiful before my eyes and not just on newsfeed, pictures and words. There's so much traveling has given me, the whole exchange experience, that has made me feel more independent, made me more self-aware of my place in the world, made me believe that there are really a lot more good people than bad people in the world.

And I continue to believe that there's always a fair share of ups and downs in life, that sometimes, you really have to save some sunshine for the rainy days, that it's okay to be make mistakes and not be infallible. To not be afraid to admit weakness is to be strong.

Well, here's to me officially being:

"23 going on 24"!