It finally happened. I had a birthday. It's been at least a year since the last one, and I have had probably around 25 of them my whole life. Despite the seeming frequency of this particular event, they never fail to bring about feelings of dread and nostalgia with a spoonful of inadequacy and a dash of intrigue. Back at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Every March 22nd, I am face with my own mortality as I contemplate where the previous year took me and the people I met, along with the things I accomplished, the things I failed to do, and the things I have yet to take on. Fortunately, this past year has been quite the eventful one, full of firsts. I moved to New York. I signed my very first apartment lease. I lived for the first time without family nearby. I held (and currently holding) my first full-time job (in Corporate America, no less). I learned to knit! And I even performed on my very first New York stage!
So I guess age 24 was a productive time. It may have been the most eventful year of my life (besides the first, but that's a given). I mean, I am currently standing on a subway typing out this journal entry on my corporate-esque Palm Pilot on my way to the West Village to sing with the patrons of a piano bar that theatre elite and hopefuls frequent. This is just a small example of how I am always on the go with a million things to do. And efficient multi-tasking is only one of the valuable skills I learned during this very full year.
I feel like I've come so far. I never in my wildest dreams back in East Jesus Nowhere, MS thought I'd be living in New York City when I "grew up." I guess I knew that I wouldn't be staying in the rural state. Although I attended Southern Baptist college in the great state of Mississippi, I left as soon as I graduated to start the journey of finding out who Austin is. Even though, 3 years later, I'm still only at the beginning of this incredible time, I feel like I've never known myself better. I feel like I can see where my priorities should lie. They aren't always aligned that way, but I think recognizing the problem is the beginning of fixing it.
One of the main thing in my life that I need to make more of a priority of is my friends up here in the city. Having no family up here has really made me appreciate the friends I have made. Most of us are all in our 20s just trying to carve out a place for ourselves in this city of 8 million people. In the absence of parents and siblings, we have become each other's family in different ways. When you make a connection in the city, you really have to hold on to it. True friends are really hard to come by, and I take mine for granted too often. The usual distractions (work, dating, personal projects, etc...) should never take the place of your friends/family. I love you guys!
So raise your glasses, everyone. Here's to (almost) 1 year in New York City with hopefully another to come. Despite the uncertainty and callousness of the first year, I feel this city has taught me more than I ever thought it would. I know that the second year will be even better.
Here, here!
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