What’s up with all this “I’m legal now” business.

Seriously, you turn 19 and what – it’s okay to be wreckless. No?

I could’ve been Wreck-less as in Wreck-[beach-clothing]-less last week when I was 18 too. Totally not implying I’ve done this. Just going to leave it ambiguous and up to readers imagination there…

So, tomorrow is my nineteenth birthday. Which for most people is a milestone because you get to join in on the night life, hit up the lick-bo and do whatever you want. But it’s also Wayne Gretzsky’s birthday, my optometrist’s birthday, this girl I went to high school with’s birthday and this girl on my floor’s birthday too. Obvi, all the cool people I know were clearly born on Jan 26th ah-diong.

This is when I start my real “new years” resolutions. My birthday is at this amazing time when most people fail at their New Year’s Resolutions and want to start over. Me? I start now. Pfffft late bloomer – whatevah. It’s just enough time to figure out what my realistic goals should be for the year without the stress of the Christmas holidays and giving myself enough time to adjust and actually stick to them. Remember that goal about jogging up Wreck Beach stairs? Still on the list. I haven’t forgotten.

There’s not huge gaps between university students. In high school it felt like a senior wouldn’t be caught dead with a grade nine. But now, who can really tell the difference? I have Master students in my french class. I chill with a bunch of 4th years on Wednesday afternoons in the ASA (Anthropology Student Association). And there’s a girl 4 years younger than me in my Arts One class. Yeah. I couldn’t believe it either at first.

My brother tells me not to be intimidated by people with fancy job titles because experience and time is the only thing they have on you.

So then it’s kind of like oh jeeze Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Greyson Chance and any other Disney child star or little kid Ellen discovered on youtube just makes you feel a little depressed and mediocre. Oh gosh, did you know I’m a few weeks older than Taylor Lautner. This is ridiculous.

To anyone celebrating a birthday, the other Aquariuses out there, have a good one.

My philosophy is that birthdays should be celebrated. I’ve been fortunate to grow up in a environment where we could have a party and embellish a little. I think of the kids around the world who don’t get the chance to celebrate their birthday or who don’t even know the day at all.

Everyday is an opportunity to celebrate who you are. So, be happy.

And…let’s not think about how in another year I’ll be in my 20’s.