Twenty Eight

A few weeks before my birthday, I was convinced that the world was playing a joke on me. 

I was sick. Not just a cough here and there, or a cute little sneeze. I was really sick. The kind of sick where every day felt like a battle against congestion, exhaustion, and body aches. Of course while this was happening, my car decided it had plans of its own and broke down at what was definitely the worst possible moment. I don’t think any descriptive words could explain how stretched thin I felt. 

It felt like every time I checked something off my list, something else appeared.

For a moment, I wondered if turning twenty eight was going to start off with stress instead of celebration. The complete opposite of how I’ve been imagining it. 

But life has a funny way of teaching lessons when you least expect them. 

This birthday reminded me that even when things go wrong, there is still so much room for happiness.

One of my favorite parts of turning twenty eight was planning a Princess Diaries inspired sleepover with some of my friends. I spent weeks thinking about the little details, imagining how everything would come together, and hoping everyone would have fun. Watching it all come together was even better than I imagined. We have a vision in our head but sometimes it’s hard to get that vision to come to life. We laughed, we made friendship bracelets, we played games. It truly was a great way to just tap into our inner child. It felt like stepping into a memory I knew I would want to keep forever. 

I was also reminded how deeply special it is to be known.

I felt that same thoughtfulness from my newer friend Tainoosh. At some point, I had mentioned a perfume that I liked in passing. It was one of those comments you assume disappears into the universe. Somehow she remembered. When she gave it to me, I realized she had been listening all along. 

It’s such a simple thing, but being remembered is one of the purest forms of love. 

Then there were my friends who showed up, spent time with me, celebrated with me and reminded me how lucky I am to have such genuine people in my life. Sometimes you can meet someone randomly at a job but end up building a bond that goes far deeper. 

And of course there was the trip.

Normally that would be disappointing.

Instead, we laughed about it.

Anyways the rain became part of the story rather than something that ruined it. Looking back, I don’t remember the weather nearly as much as I remember the feeling of being together. 

Maybe that’s part of growing up. 

When I was younger, I thought the only way I could be happy is if everything went according to plan. There could be no deviations from what I envisioned in my head.

This birthday didn’t teach me how to have a perfect year.

It taught me how much love surrounds me. 

It taught me that even when life feels stressful, overwhelming, or uncertain, there are people willing to carry some of that weight with me. 

It taught me that being known is a gift. 

It taught me that showing up matters. 

And most of all, it taught me that I am becoming someone who can recognize those things while they’re happening instead of only appreciating them afterward. 

Twenty eight began with rain, congestion, and car problems. 

But somehow it’s the most loved I’ve ever felt. 

And if that’s what twenty eight has in store, I think it’s going to be a beautiful year.

— softly, Nash 🌱