My 29th Cycle

There is a certain irony to birthdays. As much as we celebrate the passing of another year, we also mourn the loss of youth and the inevitability of aging. The very thing that we celebrate, the passing of time, is also the very thing that can bring about feelings of anxiety, regret, and the fear of mortality.

Its something we all face every year. I instead, like to enjoy the idea of another lap on the merry-go round of life. I think its silly that we only count our age after a full 365 days. You're only 1, once you've lived an entire year. But really, you are on your second journey on our celestial journey around the sun. So why not call you 2 after your first 365 days?

This idea especially frustrates me as life continues. When I am classically number as 99 years old, I am actually on my 100th year. A milestone no doubt that has many counting the literal hours to see if they make. So, I jest, that we should not be counting our age as the completed cycles but instead the current cycle we are on. Why live in the past, why fear the inevitability of aging. Instead, embrace it as an achievement, like levelling up in a video. Age should be a number of pride at all stages of life.

Today, I enter my 29th cycle. A cycle that's consisted of many joys and frustrations. Fighting depression, celebrating love, being chased by demons, and creating happiness. I don't enjoy my birthday. I find most people put too much weight on the day. Too much meaning, too many expectations, there is too much attention for my liking. Ironic, coming from someone who is usually an introvert. So, I don't generally announce the day to many. Most of my daily friends coworkers and otherwise don't know about my Birthday. In fact, usually I make as subtle jest at my current lap number jokingly and otherwise burry any conversation around my birth date.

So why share it here? Well, because in the end, you are all strangers. And aside from a small compliment here and there sharing online means I get to continue on with my day as is. I'll have a glass of some nice whiskey, call my parents, and settle for enjoying the beautiful things in our world.

I leave you with these images - as, that's usually what I share here. Today, I want to share with you a select few special images that I've come to love dearly over the years. I have posted some of these before, so forgive me for re-sharing. Some remind me of family, some great memories, some, the beautiful planet that I am lucky to be apart of. And, as my 29th cycle starts, I hope to use it to continue capturing the special places and moments that I experience in my life.

Thank you all for reading my posts, for the encouragement, and for being a lovely community that lets me spill these thoughts.