Twenty-nine

Today I am twenty-nine. When did I get to be this old? I still vividly remember when I was 9 going on 10, and I thought it was such a BIG deal to be going to double digits. But twenty-nine – wow! When I started my journey through my twenties nine years ago I don’t exactly know if I imagined what I would be doing at 29 or what 29 would feel like. I think the only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to be a writer. When I was 20 years old, 29 felt ages away. Well, time sure flies. As my favorite author Gretchen Rubin would say, “the days are long, but the years are short.”

Sorority girls, pajamas and champagne - what else would you expect on my 20th birthday?

Celebrating my 21st with my best friend from journalism school, Matt.

The twenties are trying, testing, terrific, tumultuous, and terrifying. A lot goes on in your twenties. I don’t think I’ll ever experience such a dynamic and diverse decade in my life again. During my twenties, I went off to school, learned to live on my own, joined a sorority, met new friends, dated, broke up, laughed, cried, learned to write for a newspaper, made difficult decisions, worried about easy ones, earned two degrees, got a dog, moved, moved again, moved again and again, lived in New York, traveled, started new jobs, quit some jobs, lost people I loved, learned about myself, ran a ton of miles, got married to my best friend, bought a house, and so much more. Whew. What a decade, and I’ve got one more year of the roaring twenties left.

Wine and cupcakes for my 24th with my KC girlfriends when I lived in Lenexa. All I wanted for my birthday this year was a diamond ring. Mike made me wait a few months.

Quarter of century celebrated with good friends, family, and Baby Jay on 'the Hill.'

I think my 20 year-old self would be pretty pleased with 29 -year-old Sasha. My journey through my twenties wasn’t always easy, and far from settled, but it was pretty great, too. I’m older, wiser, stronger, and much more in tune with who I am. I’ve got one more year left, and I’m excited to see what year 29 will bring. I truly believe the best is yet to come. “What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven’t happened yet.”