Brand New Decade

"...A birthday is a gift within itself, a blessing; a present of a new year filled with new hopes, dreams, accomplishments, and memories.

A few of days ago, I had the privilege of turning twenty, the end and the beginning of a decade of a life. I say it is a privilege because there are many out there who do not even live to see a few years let alone twenty.

A birthday is a gift within itself, a blessing; a present of a new year filled with new hopes, dreams, accomplishments, and memories. I remember as a child, the coveted part of birthdays would stem from seeing a large, colorful birthday cake followed by an array of presents. Now as the years have unfolded, such things prove insignificant and instead, what replaces them are wishes to spend your special day with loved ones, wishes to see the smile on their faces and have the exact expression plastered and mirrored on your own. Needless to say, a birthday cake and presents are always nice, but materialistic possessions no longer take precedence over human presence and memories; the latter simply has far more meaning and greater longevity. After all, the greatest gift of all now, for me, is the gift of a friend.

Many who have reached this milestone before me disclosed an infused feeling of finally growing up. As for my own experience, I really cannot vouch for the same sentiment. Either this is in part due to me "being quite mature for my age" (as quoted verbatim by others) or it's simply the fact that we are constantly growing up with every day that passes us by. I'll admit this much: my perspectives on life, values, and people have changed significantly. I would delve into details, but that would subject this post to be an unreasonably tedious length to read, so, in a nutshell: quantity has been blissfully exchanged with quality. Less is the new more and this will be the philosophy I'll carry with me in this new decade.

The 20s--it really is arguably the most important decade in one's life, well for me at least. I see my post-secondary graduation looming in the distance; I'm also entertaining the possibility of securing a solid career, the meeting of meeting a significant other and the potentiality of marriage and kids further down the line. This doesn't only apply to me, but for those I know as well. It's exciting more than anything; I'm dead beat curious to see how things will unfold, but at the same time, I'm in no rush at all.

So to conclude, the question everyone asks me on this day: What do I want for my birthday? I think I've answered the question indirectly already, but I'll do it again. What I want for my birthday is a solid body of friends, or friend who will remain by my side and love me for who I am rather than what I can give. One that will meet me halfway rather than allow me to traverse the distance on my own; one that will treat me like a dignified human being deserving of their time, thoughts, and care. On a more tangible scale, my one birthday wish remains the same as it had throughout the years that have passed: to see you once again and to welcome you back into my life, my long, estranged and lost father.