Last week, I had the pleasure of celebrating not one, but two birthdays. [Ironically, yesterday was also my boss' birthday, and two weeks ago marked the birthday of one of my longest-time friends. Something about the spring...]
sofia blowing out the candles and finally joining me at 24 years of age.
Both of the most recent celebratory evenings were perfectly excessive, as birthdays should be. Drinks, dessert, dressing up – all the necessities.
danielle, staring at flourless chocolate. how can one not smile at that plate?
On both occasions, I had what I suppose one could call “a moment.” On Thursday, it occurred while Megan and I were responsibly making the trek from Avenue C to the subway [responsibly, because I so would have otherwise ended up in a $20 cab]. On Saturday, it came up on a dance floor, and I think Journey might have been involved.
How to define the moment?
pre-heading out dinner: kale salad with cucumber, arame, unsweetened coconut chunks, and edamame. dressed in sesame oil, with a side of rudi’s yummy bread.
Sometimes, life calls for excess. I don’t mean once a year, or even once a month. It can’t always be predicted, and the occasions can’t be perfectly staggered and planned. Two might fall in the same week, for example.
I can say with unfortunate confidence that one year ago, I would not have gone out both times. If I had, I would never have actually participated in the excess. But this time? I toasted both ladies multiple times, and I did so happily.
In both moments, I realized: I am so free.
danielle’s bday dinner at spring street natural, where we both ordered the same thing: rice with tahini, seaweed, black beans, mixed vegetables. sometimes, simplicity is best.
On both evenings, I ate perfectly wonderful, Leslie-style dinners. I dressed myself up. I didn’t sleep enough [as per usual]. I took life over the top, and it was wonderful.
Maybe it’s part of growing up, or maybe it’s part of moving on. But I think I finally understand how to do me.
excuse my sweatiness, please.
My moment was one of contentment, where I realized that even if I don’t know where I want to be in a year or five or ten, I know where I want to be right now. I know how to let go of old anxieties and live exactly how I’d like, right now.
life is good.
And it was a moment of appreciation, because if I hadn’t gone through all that history, I would never have met these two ladies who I can call my good friends. I would never have celebrated their birthdays, and I would have been seriously missing out.
When was your last evening of excess?
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Looks like fab birthday celebrations! My last evening of excess was more of a day of excess. On Memorial Day I spent all day with my friends drinking and simply enjoying myself. I let go and just had fun. It was the most fun I’ve had in a while and I hope to do it again more times this summer =)
Nicole G
mad love. :)
and uhm, i can certainly relate. considering i spent most of college career avoiding social outings because of my irrational thoughts and behaviors, it’s fan-freakin’-tastic to live it up, oh, four nights out of the week, and not give a damn. :) who would’ve thought i was ever that crazy/ sad?! i’m impressed with how much people really can change, if the desire for change is there. rock.
P.S. rudi rocks my world. eff sprouted bread, it pales in comparison. let’s be real now.
I’m turning 30 this summer, and I still have those weeks where I end up out way too much, consuming way too many of my calories in liquid form. Excess is necessary sometimes. And I may be slowing down a bit, but I hope I never forget how to live it up once in a while. :)
Oh, I adore you :)
aww, blog love. i am so glad that we get to hang out and do excessive/wonderful things. yay, 5 glasses of wine on weeknights.
i know exactly what you mean. I used to feel like things like big meals and desserts could only happen soo rarely, and i’d freak out if anything mesesd with taht. But now i realize htat it really doesn’t matter- we eat so healthy most of the time, that our body will almost LIKE hte indulgence :) well idk about that, but it is at least incredibly healthy for the soul! so glad you went out like that and had fun
I just discovered your blog a couple of weeks ago. I want to thank you for all of your posts… They have helped and inspired me. This particular post came at a perfect time for me. Thank you for your honesty and thoughts on life. Cheers to life being lived!
Amen, sister!
My last evening of excess was – and it may be irresponsible to post this in your comment section, forgive me- on Saturday, drinking 3 Buck Chuck at the movie theater, then coming back to more wine and more friends. Pretty fabulous.