JORDAN YEARš„³
The one where AJ turns 23
I've been excitedly waiting to use this Jordan year tag since I was sixteen. And now, I'm face to face with the panic of growing older. I remember sitting through Literature classes during free periods when that poem was being studied. Simpler times.
I can't even remember how old I was in this photo that makes an appearance on all of my birthdays, but by the pink DIY crown on my head, you can tell I was destined for greatness. Bow to your queen š.
Anyway, I got an idea in January to do this, and I'm so glad I was able to do it even though I lost my first draft.
Enjoy!
23 things/people Iāve grown to love in 23 years
1. Life. āYou have a very beautiful life Cassia. I hope you never lose sight of thatā is a statement I end some of my journal entries with. Iāve grown to love my life, and life in general. Life is a gift, and Iām glad that Iāve woken up everyday for the last twenty three years to this beautiful gift.
2. Family. I have a close-knit family and Iāve always loved that. I canāt remember any holiday growing up that I wasnāt around nuclear and extended family. I really love my parents. Growing up brings you face to face with all the sacrifices parenting requires and as my appreciation for them grows, love inadvertently follows. Itās always funny to look at my siblings and see how different we all are even though we share blood. I was looking through photos today and it made me so happy. I'm so honoured to have grown up with those guys, so honoured to watch them grow up. I would go to war for my siblings if need be. Iām grateful that I have a present family. There is love at home.
3. Friendship. I donāt have a lot of friends, never have. But the quality of my friendships has always beaten quantity hands down! Ugh, I really love my friends. Having friendships is basically finding and choosing family and Iām grateful that God blessed humans with that privilege. I also really love and appreciate friendship as a concept. God ate with that. I find myself observing peopleās interactions with their friends very closelyāwhether thatās in real life or movies, and it makes me so happy.
4. Music. I could go on and on bro. Music has been a huge part of my life. I remember seasons in my life by the songs I was obsessed with. I love that music makes me feel. Thereās absolutely no need to flog this, real ones get it.
5. Creative writing. The fact that I can string random words together that make sense has always been very cool to me. I love writing so much. It has been such an outlet for me. My journals are some of my most prized possessions. Years and years of learning and growing all documented in my own words. Iāve actively been on substack for 2+ years and it's very exciting that it has opened my gift to a wider audience. Iām so grateful for my parents, my siblings, my friends, acquaintances, loved ones and even the random people that donāt even know me from Adam, because itās one thing to know you have a gift, but itās so rewarding to have people affirm your gift. It is such an honour that my gift has never lacked affirmation.
6. Reading. Iāve always loved reading books, especially fiction. Words fascinated me as a child. I became very good at reading because whenever I saw a word I didnāt know the meaning of, or couldnāt pronounce, I got offended, so I changed it quickly. In the same vein, my favourite author in the world is Francine Rivers. Yes, I know. Me and 101 other Christian girls, but thatās how you know sheās that girl. I remember picking up my first FR book (Redeeming Love) when I was nine, I think. I took it from my Aunty Mercyās nightstand. Shout out to her mehn, she walked so I could somersault. I cannot explain how my 9 year old mind felt reading that book. It felt like a whole new world opened to me. I feel like that with every book of hers I read, with every read, and I do be re-reading them A LOT. In summary, I love reading and I appreciate every single writer that has made reading enjoyable for me.
7. Sitcoms. I obviously enjoy the comedy, but I also enjoy how real they are. Theyāre not overly dramatic, and could very much be real life. I really love that. The first sitcom I ever locked in on was The Office. Since then thereās been Abbott Elementary, Brooklyn 99, Modern Family and Friends. Thereāll definitely be more. 7b. I love a good romcom and I really like The Rookie. Iām sure by my geeking out, you can already tell what my answer to Movies or Series would be. These points have become so long winded, letās try to rapid fire.
8. Rice. Seems basic because as a Nigerian, if you donāt like rice youād probably starve, but I really love rice in almost all forms.
9. Learning new things, but on my own terms.
10. Pastries. Puff puff is such a babe, and it hurts to see her get disrespected by people because of miniature meat pie and fish roll. A good doughnut is basically the best pastry you can offer me, but please keep the milk away, thanks.
11. Yam. Never beating the āBenue girlā allegations apparently. Very versatile gift from God. Boiled yam, fried yam, pounded yam, roasted yam, amala, yam porridgeāgreat stuff. In the same vein, potatoes and plantain. So geuddddd.
12. Cute and effective stationery. Pens, highlighters, pencilsā the works.
13. Jewellery. Rings and bracelets are particularly so cool to me. I'll just add here that sunglasses are my favourite accessory.
14. Easy clothes. Sweatpants, T-shirts, shorts. I love clothes I can just lounge in.
15. Sundresses. I love how dainty they are.
16. Road trips, even though this country has diminished my love for this. I love a long car ride in an ideal society. Music blaring with car-aoke, possibly snacks and then good conversation š.
17. Holidays. Not vacations yet, but Iām sure Iād love those too. I just love not having academic or work responsibilities.
18. Puns. Love an intelligent or silly pun.
19. Funny people. Especially people who donāt even try to be funny. One of my favourite compliments that Iāve gotten a couple of times is āyouāre effortlessly funnyā, so I think itās normal that I want to be in such company.
20. Companionable silence. I love that I have friends that I can hang out with and the silences are not awkward. We donāt have to be in conversation 100% of the time, and I love people who get that.
21. Solitude. I enjoy my own company a lot. I loveeee being alone and it breaks my heart when people think itās a problem with them. Well, some yes but for the most part, thereās nothing wrong with you darling. I just love my own bubble, and I love my mind so I really like to sit with it.
22. Sleep. I love a good nap. I prefer to sleep during the day most of the time, but whatever. I take that āeverything will feel better when you wake upā advice very seriously, and it does 92% of the time.
23. Jesus. He is the reason Iām here, the reason Iāve come this far. What a friend Iāve found in Jesus, and what a hope I have in my saviourās love. Jesus means everything to me. Iām grateful that in this world where very little is sure, I have the surest foundation. Even if someday I wake up and I donāt have any of the 22 things I mentioned above, I will always have Jesus, and thatās enough for me.
I celebrated my last birthday as a medical student last year but right now, I'm not technically a doctor on paper yet, so let's just say I'm a medical student in transit.
Happy 23rd birthday Cassia. Look how far you've come! Look how far God is going to take you. Here's to another year of dancing on the waves.
Thank you for reading this to this point, and thank you in advance for all your birthday wishes.
See you same time next year for my Bryant year (I will make it a thingš).
With so much love,
Birthday girl.
Happy birthday Cassiaš„°
Belated happy birthday, girllllll. You're easily one of my faves on here fr. God bless you!ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø