Another birthday on a Sunday. Having a summer birthday has always been sort of bleak, if I’m honest. Especially on the heels of the 24th of July. If I remember correctly, I think I had two birthday parties in a row while in fourth and fifth grade where only one friend showed up. The two birthdays on my mission were basically regular days. I can’t remember what I did last year.
On top of the summer birthday difficulties, I’ve been sick! Unbelievable. This month has been the worst health-wise that I’ve had in recent memory! I was in considerable pain for a week due to sunburns, which was then immediately followed by a stomach bug that had me out for a few days. After a week of feeling healthy, I caught some sort of virus and have had cold-like symptoms for 4 days now.
22! In honor of my pops who listed 50 things for his 50th, here are 22 things I’m grateful for right now. One shot, so it might be slightly unorganized/unpolished. Also in no particular order.
- Jesus Christ. The gift of forgiveness. His teachings and His gospel. My Heavenly Father, my eternal identity. I could go on, but I’m going to put that all in one bullet point.
- Warm weather. After experiencing only one winter in the past four years, I’m questioning if I enjoy being cold and miserable.
- My parents and siblings. My lovely family. I love them.
- Fresca. Mav runs. Mav chocolate-covered peanuts. They’re so good.
- How blessed I am to pursue an education. My good mind. The opportunity to go to college.
- Golf. Especially when I’m playing well.
- New hobbies. Film, this blog, tennis.
- Hiking/camping/being outside. The world is so #gorg
- My country! America 250! I love the USA
- The experiences I’ve had in the National Guard this past year. Crazy #sidequest
- The lessons that God is teaching me to make me a stronger and more resilient disciple! Although sometimes I am not so happy to be learning them, I can #bigtrust that there’s a divine design behind it all! Unbeatable mindset to have 🙂 I might also lump the temple into this since I feel like God helps me there to have the right mindset when it comes to hard things in life. Okay, I couldn’t fit all of this in that first point sry.
- My wonderful car, Lebron. Although I think he’s starting to leak oil ahhhh. Stay with me bron
- Depop free shipping for like a whole month. Maybe I’ll speak more on this in another post. Crazy times for me recently.
- Right now I’m grateful for cold medicine
- My wonderful friends. All who consider me a friend. I am so happy to say I apply that title broadly. So it probably applies to you! I’m so gr8ful 4 u!!
- Sports. Playing and watching. I can’t wait for college football this fall.
- Spanish summer! I’ve been listening to so much Spanish music lately, and it’s just so good. Of all the languages I could’ve learned, I’m really glad it was Spanish
- Long-term friendships and relationships. Even apart from my family, it’s so crazy to me that some of my closest friends have been rocking with me for almost 10 years. That’s special. I’ve got friends that feel more like brothers than they do friends. I’m just feeling grateful to have relationships like that and people around me who have cared for me through so many phases of life. It never ceases to amaze me.
- Berries, apples, peaches, Greek yogurt, watermelon, mangoes, strawberries, cantaloupe
- BYU speeches. I’ve been spamming these so much lately. I should say conference talks too probably hehe
- The stars. The mountains. Running rivers. Everything around me that reminds me of my Heavenly Father, His mercy, and that He is greater than I.
- The past 21 years of my life! I’ve been so blessed. Being raised in Lehi, Utah. The good family that has taught me eternal truths. My mission. My experiences over the past two years since coming home from that. The friends I’ve made and experiences that I’ve had. Life is good because God is so good!
I’m an impatient person, and I know it. Life doesn’t move as quickly as my mind does. My brain outpaces life maybe tenfold. It may not be the perfect birthday, but that’s okay. I may not have everything figured out in life, but life can only move so quickly. 22 feels scary for some reason. I guess that feels old. But 18 felt old. Whether old or young, I’m so grateful to know on this Sunday birthday that it will all make sense looking back. So I can relax a little. And just be sick on my birthday.
UPDATE: I just found my AirPods after they went through the washer so actually my birthday is ruined and I take it all back 😻
SECOND UPDATE: This came up in my memories and made me laugh. Best birthday ever.