Toast to 28 like a Taylor Swift song while we go through life.

I tried re-reading my lengthy Why am I writing these birthday essays? I have been blogging for four years; jayescapes.blogspot.com has been there for four years, with blogs left unpublished.

My yearly birthday essays have always included social issues from pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic social problems that have always been there. I have cited life lessons, pandemic lockdowns and lock-ins, SOGIE, population and employment rates, numbers and figures, and even life expectancy and attention span. Through the years, I have bombarded my readers with essays that seem not a birthday message because why not?

For this year, I don’t have that catchy joke from the pandemic where it was like we’re making Dalgona coffee and viola we’re singing to Jose Marie Chan’s Christmas carols or the contemplating with the word of the year – gaslighting was the word of the year last year. This year, though “rizz” is the word of the year 2023, I can’t, and I don’t know how to make a sensible sentence with rizz, so let me quote Tom Holland just to be relevant. "I have no rizz whatsoever; I have limited rizz."

Casper Grathwohl, president at Oxford Languages, said that "rizz" speaks to "a prevailing mood of 2023, where more of us are opening ourselves up after a challenging few years and finding confidence in who we are." Way to go, Mr. Grathwohl. That’s the ending statement for the year.

Mr. Grathwohl is right. Indeed, 2023 is when people are opening up after a challenging few years and finding confidence in who they are. Just like me, I had the courage and drive to try. This year, I passed the Civil Service Exam (I have kwento; I filed again cause I knew deeply in my heart and mind that I would fail, pero my name was there), I re-enrolled in my graduate studies and met amazing people. I lost opportunities but gained lessons from them.

I am a swiftie; thus, using her lyrics from different songs has also been a concept of my birthday essays. For better or worse, I've experienced highs and lows over the years, like a song with each verse. "Long live" to the memories, laughter, and tears as we dance through life with "Fearless" cheers.

I've learned to 'Shake It Off' and 'Begin Again' when life becomes challenging. Through 'Delicate' moments and 'Enchanted' fantasies, I've learned to paint my bright schemes. In the 'Blank Space' of possibilities, I've found 'Style' in authenticity.

Here's to 'Red' emotions that never go away as I 'Sparks Fly' into another year and 'New Romantics' undoubtedly emerge. 'Love Story' develops with every day, and with 'Wildest Dreams' and dreams so high, I'll 'Fearless' chase the vast sky.

When NYU awarded Taylor Swift an honorary doctorate, she mentioned, “So as a rule, I try not to give anyone unsolicited advice unless they ask for it.” That clicked with me. Yeah, right. I could have written lengthy essays on what you would do, but I am not you. How in the world would I know what you feel? And I am not qualified to tell you what to do.

So, to continue with Dr. Swift’s speech, the first lesson she shared was an eye-opener for me, which is noteworthy to share, and here it goes

“…life can be heavy, especially if you try to carry it all at once. Part of growing up and moving into new chapters of your life is about catch and release. What I mean by that is knowing what things to keep, and what things to release. You can’t carry all things, all grudges, all updates on your ex, all enviable promotions your school bully got at the hedge fund his uncle started. Decide what is yours to hold and let the rest go. Oftentimes the good things in your life are lighter anyway, so there’s more room for them. One toxic relationship can outweigh so many wonderful, simple joys. You get to pick what your life has time and room for. Be discerning.”

I won’t be stressing too much about her POVs because they are amazingly worded already, and this lengthy birthday essay is kinda lenghty na rin na.

I'm here to celebrate time's passage and the achievements and lessons it has taught me. I'm thankful for the experiences that shaped me in a world where people are resilient, adaptable, and growing. Let us embrace the obstacles, treasure the accomplishments, and eagerly anticipate the unwritten parts of the upcoming year. Toast to 28 like a Taylor Swift song while we go through life. And I thank you.