Thursday, August 25, 2011

today

today is my birthday!
which means i'm either 29 or 30, depending on how you count birthdays.
{this has always been a very complicated calculation for me.  i mean when we finish 8th grade we are immediately called a freshman, but when we finish our 29th year of life, we still call ourselves 29? i would just like some consistency please.  so, just to be clear, i'm beginning my 30th year of life, which most people in the US call "turning 29."  whatever.}

looking back over my life, i feel grateful for so many things!
so i've decided to share my gratitude post with you today instead of tomorrow.

after 29 years of life, i'm thankful for:
* the 80's.
* the 90's.
* yeah, the 2000's aren't bad either.
* reese's peanut butter cups.
* my wonderful, large family.
* all the amazing groups of friends i've had at each stage of life {isn't it fantastic how people impact you forever? even if you haven't seen them in years, a little piece of them lives on in your life}.
* music and all of my experiences with it.
* growing up in the country and a teeny tiny town.
* moving to the big city.
* swear words {i love swearing so fucking much!}.
* becoming a therapist.
* the goonies.
* getting my first tattoo {notice my usage of the word "first"} :)
* every single minute i spent living in san francisco.
* the way life brought dannon and i together {by the way, if you missed it, you can read the story of how we got together over on charlotte's blog}.
* all the heartbreak, fear, confusion, struggles, challenges, and bad times.  without them, i'd be so boring {and not very wise at all}.
* all the giggles, late night movies with friends, perfect moments when everything fell into place, taking risks, and all my other amazing memories.
* outdoor adventuring.
* surviving my teen years {phew!}.
* that i never have to go back in time and relive a certain high school haircut.
* being raised by a family who encouraged me to be fiercely independent, to have an open mind, and to search out what was right for me in every aspect of life.
* and you didn't think i'd forget this did you?  the elephants!!!  best experience of my life, by far.

****

also a tremendous happy birthday to all of my dear ones who's birthday is also today!!!
{i have 12 friends & family members with my birthday, plus 5 previous co-workers and acquaintances - yup, popular day to be born.}

43 comments:

  1. Happy birthday! Ages make sense to me - it's how many days/weeks/months/years you've completed, like ticking them off a checklist. Hope you have a wonderful year, whatever age you are, though!

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  2. Happy Birthday!!! I'm thankful for Reese's peanut butter cups too :)

    Belly B :)

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  3. Happy Birthday fellow birthday girl - and good luck in all the amazing years to come - Hoooooorrray :)
    Axxxx

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  4. Have a great birthday, whichever number you choose!

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  5. Happy Birthday! I miss seeing you around, but am glad you have such a wonderful life in CA!!

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  6. Happiest birthday wishes, beautiful Kim! I love that you love swear words--I fucking love' the hell out of em too :)

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  7. Happy birthday, lovely lady! :] Hope it's wonderful!

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  8. Beyond popular, a GREAT day for a STAR to be born.

    Happy Birthday!

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  9. happy birthday lovely one. wishing you all the best xx
    its also my dads birthday today, youre right it is a popular day xx

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  10. This makes me really happy - it seems like you've had such a fun life but that you also acknowledge that it isn't always puppies and rainbows either. Makes me hopeful that I'll get through my hard times and come out stronger on the other side.

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  11. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
    Whoa - 17 people you know with the same birthday as you?! That's crazy! :)

    Anyway - so sad I won't be able to make it out to LA to see you today :( My sis is in town, and I'm tied up with entertaining/hanging out with her. Rain check, though, definitely - I'll bring you a book next time I see you ;)

    Have a really wonderful, lovely day today - a good and beautiful soul like you deserves it! :) All my happiest birthday wishes to you! :)

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  12. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET KIM!!!! Hope this day is a the happiest one yet, full of beautiful surprises, sunshine, and loved ones. And GOOD GOD--12 friends/fam members with the same bday?! Popular day for sure! :)

    Also, thanks for the shout-out!

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  13. Happy Freakin Birthday!!!! You have such a full life and thank you for always being willing to share it with others. You are the most beautiful person. Happy Birthday!

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  14. Happy Birthday, Beautiful! Hope it's fucking amazing! XOXO

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  15. Happy Birthday!!! Hope you have a bad ass day! =) You deserve it because you are a good person with a big heart!

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  16. hahaha- will you be sharing photos of the high school haircut?
    Happy Birthday! I never even really considered the age/ birthday question before, I just accepted the "standard" western way with no questions asked. It's interesting though!

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  17. happy birthday :) and im TOTALLY with you on the confusion thing about the age vs. the year we are completing in life. still cant get it straight in my brain.

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  18. Happy Happy Birthday Kim! Have a fantastic day filled with loved ones and love and fun. I hope you get to see more elephants in your lifetime, since I know how much you loved that! ;)

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  19. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! hope you have a permanent smile on your face all day today!

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  20. well happy birthday, girlie! i hope you celebrate all year long, and i get the feeling you will!

    p.s. reese's peanut butter cups make the world a better place. seriously! so glad they exist!!!

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  21. happy happy birthday to such an inspiration! i hope it's one of the best! you are anything but boring and so interesting to follow along with so i too am grateful for all that you've been though. : ) hope your day is full of more to be grateful for!

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  22. This is a great list!!
    Happy 29th birthday and 30th year!!
    xox

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  23. Oooh Happy Birthday! I hope your day is as lovely as you are! :) xo

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  24. Happy Birthday, Kim!!!! Wishing you all the best in your new year :)

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  25. Wishing you a very lovely and special 29th/30th birthday today! Oh, and I love swearing too! I enjoying the silly feeling that I get inside when I use words that I was taught were "bad" when really, I'm just expressing myself, no? Hope you have a blast at Alcove Bakery with your friends :-)

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  26. Hope you are having a very special birthday Kim! Sounds like a pretty great time over the years, especially those elephants! I'd send you a card if I had your address. :) Hah. Well, hope this 29th (or 30th) year is as amazing as the last was. Much love from VA! xoxo.

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  27. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Kim!!! I hope it's been absolutely wonderful so far and will continue to be all the way through the weekend and year! It's been a blessing knowing you so far and I look forward to getting to know you even more. : ) Eat a piece of cake for me!

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  28. happy birthday!!! hope you have a wonderful day!

    i actually had 3 or 4 classmates with the same bday, and a former co-worker as well!

    [oomph.]

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  29. Happy, Happy Birthday !! have a wonderful one! I agree with you on the confusing birthday thingy - just depends on how you WANT to look at it- right! Take Care Kelly

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  30. Happy Birthday, gorgeous!! I'm so glad you're enjoying your day -- and finding so much to be thankful for. I agree -- the 2000s and the 2010s aren't bad at all (2010 was particularly awesome because I got to meet you).

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  31. Happy birthday!
    Your comment about swearing made me laugh. :) I love your gratitude, even for things like never reliving a high school haircut! I hope you enjoyed your day!

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  32. You are very wise! Happy 30th year and 29th birthday :)

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  33. happy birthday to you and all the other birthday people. hope you had a sweet day.

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  34. Happy Birthday Kim! Long time no see! Hope you are doing fantastic! :)

    <3 Hillary

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  35. Happy Birthday. My nephew was born on your birthday =)

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  36. Thank you for your comment on my site. I've yet to fully embrace my transition from non-profit to corporate, and from one city to the next. Always an adventure, right?

    But at any rate, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Here's to wishing you the very best on your special day. Cheers!

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  37. Happy Birthday !!! Great blog :)

    keepcalmandtypeon.blogspot.com

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  38. Happy Birthday! I never really thought about the 29 vs 30 thing and when to call yourself what age...but I think I am comfortable for right now saying I am 30 and not 31!!! :)

    I loved that you included that you are thankful for heartbreak, fear, confusion, struggles etc...I think it is so important to realize that those moments are what really shape us into who we are...and you are such a beautiful person!

    Have a wonderful day!
    xoh
    -D

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  39. I just totally cracked up at "swear words" - too funny! Happy fucking birthday, Kim!!

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  40. Happy belated birthday! Sounds like you had a fabulous one! xxoo :)

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