25.

 © Danielle Scruggs

"I woke up early on my born day, I'm [25] years of blessing/the essence of adolescence leaves my body now I'm fresh in/my physical frame is celebrated cuz I made it/one-quarter through life/some godly-like fame created..." *

Normally, I would gnash my teeth about where I am right now. I would use this space to worry about not being accomplished enough, talented enough, smart enough, well-traveled enough, etc. etc. now that I've lived for a quarter of a century.

But I'm not going to do that, especially in light of a great conversation I had with a dear, dear friend of mine on Tuesday. As we sat outside somewhere near U Street, watching the sun make its westward journey before setting, she told me not to compare myself to others. "They're thriving in their season and you're thriving in yours. And anything else you haven't done that you want to do...you can do it. You're capable."

I am.

In the past few months, many good things have come my way, in terms of new friends, new relationships, a new place, creating and showing work, and new opportunities related to what I love to do. (Photography and writing, in case you weren't sure.)

And there are a lot more good things in store for me. I know it. I can feel it. And I welcome it.