To live will be an awfully big adventure.

“To live will be an awfully big adventure” – J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

I always wanted to be just like Peter Pan, but instead of being the boy that never grew up I wanted to be the woman that forever would be a grown up. As I child I envied people that had a job and fulfilled that purpose every single day. To me, that sounded like the most amazing adventure, that anyone could ever wish for: a calling in life that you follow every single day, come rain or sunshine. That is, what I wanted when I was 8 years old.

Fast forward 20 years, bills piling up, dust in every corner of the apartment, hundreds of emails every day and I can honestly say: Life has never been sweeter. Being a grown up is not easy, but it’s the most amazing adventure that I could ever imagine. Of course, sometimes my decisions are questionable but then again, so were Peter Pan’s right?

At the end of the day my decisions make me, who I am today: a bit quirky, definitely geeky and a slow motion runner without even trying, but I am okay with that. I’d even go so far to say that I am proud of who I am and beyond everything, I am genuinely happy with my adventurous life.

Did I accomplish everything on my 20 year goal list? (And you bet I made one when I was 8!) No, of course I didn’t but then again 8-year old me, had NO IDEA how cool being a grown up would actually be. 8-year old me’s expectation of a grown up life didn’t even come close to anything that I experienced within the last 20 years. So yes, I absolutely love being a grown up and living every adventure to the fullest and while doing so, I love getting wrinkly and waiting for my first grey hair.

So yes, to live is an awfully big adventure, sometimes scary but most of the time exciting. I promise you, no adventure is as awesome as the journey you find yourself on, so go live awfully big adventures, you owe it to yourself!

Finally, thank you for all the birthday wishes and birthday greetings and all the wonderful text messages, emails, snapchats and all the other ways you found to congratulate me. Special thank you for hand written cards! They are by far my absolute favorite!

So seize the day and enjoy your adventure!