Another Year Closer to… Something?

A birthday reflection on gratitude, growth, friendship, and learning to trust what comes next.

To be honest, I’ve never been much of a “birthday person.” I used to see them as just another day on the calendar, maybe even a bit of a distraction. I didn’t really get the hype or the need for celebration just for completing another trip around the sun.

But this year feels different. I’ve found myself leaning into the day, not for the attention or anything, but because I’ve started to appreciate the weight of what a birthday actually represents. It’s a moment to pause and realize that I’m not just getting older; I’m actually growing. I was even telling some friends I’m actually excited for my birthday for God knows why lol.

The funny thing about birthdays is they force you to look at your life and admit, even if just for a moment, that time is doing what time does, you know.

And with that comes growth.

The kind of growth that shows up in how you see people, how you handle disappointment, and how quickly you realize that not everything or everyone is supposed to stay. Sometimes growth looks like watching the people around you move through tension, misunderstanding, and change. I have seen friends argue, drift, and struggle to stay aligned, which has made me think a lot about how vision shapes relationships, too.

You see, not every fight is just about the fight; sometimes it is about people outgrowing old versions of themselves. Sometimes it is about mismatched priorities, different callings, or the uncomfortable reality that not everyone is headed in the same direction forever. And when that happens, the tension shows up in the friendship first.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about vision. I’ve been reading The Principles and Power of Vision by Myles Munroe, and it’s shifted something in me. There’s a line in the book that stopped me in my tracks: “Eyes that look are common, but eyes that see are rare.” It made me realize how much of my life I’ve spent just looking, noticing the immediate things in front of me, the daily chores, and the surface-level stuff, without actually seeing the purpose behind it all. As I step into this next year, I’m trying to move from just looking to truly seeing. Munroe mentions that "vision sets you free from the limitations of what eyes see and allows you to enter the liberty of what the heart can feel." Observing these shifts has taught me that as much as it hurts to see people drift or argue, it’s often a necessary byproduct of them trying to find their true path.

I have also realized (idk why it took me a while lmao) that vision is not just personal; it affects relationships too. When people are growing, their relationships are often tested. When someone does not have clarity about where they are going, it can create confusion in how they move with others. And when two people are no longer seeing life the same way, even small things can start to feel heavier than they really are.

So watching those moments has reminded me that growth is not always graceful, and vision is not just about success or purpose in some abstract sense, idk if I’m making sense (see what I did there hehe). It also shapes the way we love, the way we communicate, and the way we stay connected to people as we change.

Even though I can see these patterns in others, it doesn’t mean I have my own path perfectly figured out sksksk. TBH… I’m terrified of what’s next.

I’m stepping into a journey that feels deeply uncertain. The “signs” of change are all around me, and while I’m hopeful, the fear of the unknown is definitely there. Munroe’s book has been a bit of a lifeline here. It’s taught me that vision isn’t a 50-page business plan; it’s an internal compass. It’s about fostering a sense of purpose that’s so strong that it can carry you through the fog. I’m learning that the more I foster this vision, the more it benefits my future self. It’s an investment in clarity. It’s about knowing why I’m doing what I’m doing, so when the next “un-alignment” happens or a door closes, I don’t feel lost. I just feel like I’m being redirected.

So, while I might have spent years being indifferent toward birthdays, I’m choosing to appreciate this one. I’m thankful for the life I’ve been given and the people who are currently in it. I’m grateful for a community that challenges me and for the friends who are still walking in the same direction as I am.

Most of all, I’m thankful for the ability to see. Not just to look at the candles on a cake or food or something, but to see the vision that’s pulling me forward into this next chapter.

If you’re reading this and feeling a bit stuck or just “looking” at your life, I highly recommend taking a second to check your vision. Are you seeing the potential, or just the problems?

So today, I’m putting down the 'looking' and picking up the 'seeing.' I’m stepping into this next year not with a perfect map, but with a clearer vision. Here’s to being rare, to seeing the extraordinary in the mundane, and to finally being okay with the fact that growth always requires a little bit of leaving things behind.

Happy birthday to me. The vision is getting clearer, and for the first time, I’m actually excited to see where it leads.