oh 23..

I can't believe it's almost my birthday again! Has it really been a year? Has it only been a year? 23 has been the most difficult year of my life thus far. And it's not because of Japan; it's me. Japan is just a key player in the story, a setting that has allowed things to happen. I was drawn to this country, away from everyone and everything I know, not fully comprehending the draw but knowing I should follow it. Here in this environment certain things have become glaringly obvious and all the issues from my globally nomadic lifestyle have caught up to me and punched me in the face. One day I'll write a book. Now, though, I feel like I'm on the very edge of something; something good, and real, and much needed. So I'm interested to see where the 24th year will take me. I've never made a big deal over my birthday before although part of me has always wanted to. I've never done anything more special than going to a movie; never had a party or anything like that. I want to celebrate what God has done these 23 years and cheer to the next, because God is good and I think it's a good thing to celebrate ones existence as well. So this year, I'm doing something--I'm going to Tokyo Disneyland; and I'm so so excited. I'll never really grow up.