First off, I would just like to apologize for the lack of updates on social media. It’s not for lack of wanting. I’ve just been very busy with personal stuff, as well as being sick for like a month. Always fun. Thankfully things are cooling down and are returning back to normal.
That being said, I’m here to say the day has finally come. The day where I leave my 20s behind and level up to start a new chapter in my life. I’m talking about today, my 30th birthday.
Now, I’m going to admit, I’m a little scared. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because I’m leaving my youth behind (so to speak) and getting older. However, I’m ready for this new journey.
My 20s were the best years of my life. I’ve done so many things in these past ten years (wow, ten already?) and I’m now excited to see what more I can do. I’ve done things I never thought would happen to me. I’ve got to work for an amazing company called Contendo, where I was at one point promoted to their Senior Audio Editor. I’ve gone back to school and done everything I’ve ever wanted in a post-secondary education, and more. (Such things included, getting scholarships and bursaries, being in society, volunteering, getting on the deans' list every year and even graduating first-class standing, and my favourite, getting to be an exchange student to Spain!). Not to mention I FINALLY cracked down and wrote a novel and with the help of my editor, edited it three times and it’s almost ready completion.
In travelling, I’ve achieved my dream of going to Japan not once, but three times! Even got interviewed for a TV show in Tokyo this year. I’ve been to Korea with my friend and later my dad. I went to school in Spain — and met and shook hands with the queen of Spain! Visited Portugal for a weekend while on the exchange. Checked out Germany and Hong Kong Disney land during super long-ass layovers. Taught English in Thailand. Visited the capital of Canada. And my favourite, achieve my lifelong dream of moving to Asia.
Posing with my friend and Olympic athletes in at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics
EXO Concert
I’ve been in South Korea for over a year now and I’ve even done so much here. I’ve seen the Olympic torch relay pass right in front of me here in Seosan. Saw EXO in concert (and a bunch others, like SHINee, during a k-pop music festival). Went to the Olympics with my best friend from Canada in PyeongChang and saw history live. Had my cousin and friend come to visit me. Met my best friend, Leila, as well as meeting my girlfriend, Leah. Travelled for PRIDE all over Korea, from Seoul to Ulsan, to Busan, tp flying to Jeju. It was a good year for travelling this year.
Speaking of my girlfriend, I honestly thought I’d never find anyone like her. I had accepted I was going to be single forever and accepted that I’d probably never find anyone in Korea because Korea is suuuuuper conservative. But I found her and she’s amazing. To sum it up, here is a short story. Months ago I was in Seoul with my friend Leila and we were on the subway going somewhere and we saw this guy. His phone would buzz and when he’d look at the text on the screen, his face would light up with happiness I’ve never seen before. He’d reply, put his phone away, then when another text came, his happy smile would return. Leila and I watched him every time he’d get a text, and every time his smile would widen. Leila said to me, “I wish I could find someone who makes me smile like that.”
Few months pass and I met Leah, and as time passed we started going out. And I realized something that I had to tell my friend. I told her, “Leila, I found someone that makes me smile like that.” And THAT is what I want for those of you who are reading this. I hope that you find someone that makes you smile, sees you for who you really are and loves you the way you deserve to be loved. I also hope that you realize that your life is amazing and worthwhile, too. You don’t have to travel the world and meet royalty to know you are worth it. It’s how you behave in this life that makes the difference.
Everything happened exactly when I needed it to. If I had gone to university sooner, I wouldn’t have met the friends I made there. If I decided to move to another country but Korea, I wouldn’t have met my girlfriend. Every event, every person, everything I’ve seen has come into my life (or left) exactly when it needed to be there, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Now that I’ve hit 30, that is the understanding I’ve come to know.
