On Turning 18

Today's the day, the big one-eight.

Sounds like a big deal, right? Yet somehow, feels oh-so-anti-climatic. Just another day. Wake up, feel the same. Look in the mirror, look the same. Just one day older, just like any other day.

I feel kind of insignificant about these eighteen years. Just another one of Plato's caves, right? Perception - perspective - it's all very wonky stuff. Eighteen doesn't sound very old, but in the grand scheme of things, eighteen years - that's a fair amount of time.

Did I really accomplish anything significant during this time? Did I waste away my childhood? I don't know. I hope not. There's so much that I've thought about doing, that I've wanted to do - and ultimately didn't do - before this drastic, life-altering milestone marker.

At the same time - there's a lot of stuff that I did do. Stuff that I might not have originally conceived of doing, of being capable of doing - and found myself able. That's kind of empowering.

But again - what is age? What are numbers? Mere fabrications of the human mind, delineations and limitations created by society to exert a sort of control? Does it define a person?

There are two quotes that one of my best buddies and I have been really hanging onto lately. Nullum desiderium, and carpe diem. Both Latin, the former meaning "no regrets" and the latter "seize the day."

And every day is a new day. An open canvas, free to limitless possibilities. Bursting at the seams with potential, waiting for the magic to be drawn out. This year - I'll make it my year. Better and better, every day, day by day.

This year - I'll try harder, I'll work harder, I'll play harder. I'll find that motivation that I've lost, I'll rediscover myself who wandered astray, I'll get up off my ass and make things happen instead of lazing around in bouts of wishful thinking. This year - I will be.

And know what? I'm inviting you to join me in making this year a brilliant year. No day like today to start. So, who's going to take up the challenge? Who's with me?

Carpe diem - and nullum desiderium.

*And back we go to the abyss of IB exams.