The Year of 23 and Me

So, I turned 23 yesterday.

Last year, on my birthday, I said 22 is less exciting than 21. 23 is even less so, if only because I’ll never again be able to sing Taylor Swift’s 22, whilst having it be accurate.

I’ve decided to remedy the lack of significance associated with my new age by putting my own spin on it. Taking a page from the book of Sue Sue Heck (from TV’s The Middle), I’ve dubbed this year of my life, the Year of 23 and Me – though it’s completely unrelated to DNA testing of any sort.

The theme I’ve decided for the year, revolves around me really working towards and investing in my own happiness and future, and doing everything I can to try to achieve the life I want.

The motivation to do this came about from a recent realisation; I realised that even at 22, and now 23, I am young. It’s something I’ve been told plenty of times, but it’s taken me this long to actually recognise as true. I may not have my whole life ahead of me, but I sure have a lot of it, and there’s still plenty of time for me to achieve the things I set my mind to.

And so, with that knowledge, I’ve officially decided to stop holding myself back.

Now, if you read my new year’s post you’ll know that I understand it’s not as simple as making the choice to change and that change requires hard work, but the initial decision to make that change is nevertheless a step in the right direction.

Another step I need to take is to actively and continuously recognise when I’m discouraging myself from trying to achieve something with thoughts like too fat for this, too untalented for that, too uncharismatic for this, and most of all, too late for that.

And, in addition to that, I have to stop letting myself be apathetic towards my own life and future and acknowledge that happiness and success don’t just happen. If I truly want to be happy, I can’t continue to coast through life accepting “good enough”. I also have to accept that it is indeed okay to have the audacity to want more than good enough, and that that doesn’t make me selfish or entitled.

Furthermore, I have to remain willing to work hard to achieve my goals whilst accepting that it could be a very long time before I actually see any obvious signs of success, and that I’m likely experience plenty of failure, difficulty, and low moments along the way.

I’ll definitely struggle at times, and I may even feel like that struggle isn’t worth something that might come to fruition, but right now I’m not willing to let myself not try.