Birthday #39 Is Almost Here

Sean Covey once said, "It's all about how you feel, not how you look." This has always been my attitude when it comes to seeing another year. Yours truly will be celebrating a birthday in exactly a month, as I'm writing this story on October 13. As you can see by the title of this story, I'll be turning 39. If you've seen any pictures of me on Vocal, most of you would say that I don't look my age and you're right. I hilariously get mistaken by some people for a high school or college student, due to my youthful appearance. Don't get me wrong. Looking young isn't a bad trait to have, but it's not like I have this extravagant secret of how I was able to maintain my appearance. So, what's on the agenda this time around? Since it'll be the final year in my 30s, I'll treat myself to preparing two of the many favorite foods I enjoy the most. Last year on my birthday, I bought myself a nice frozen dinner, a set of slices of cheesecake, and something to drink. We all know that eating out has become even more expensive that it's basically a luxury. The last time I ate out alone for my birthday was back in 2015 when I went to Red Lobster. The last place that someone took me out on my birthday was back in 2019. My friend at the time took me out to Applebee's, had a nice meal, and the staff presented me with a birthday cake. I had a wonderful time at both places, but going out to a restaurant, whether it's fast food or casual, is extremely rare.

I have some ideas of what I want to have for my big day. Pizza, Sloppy Joe's, and lasagna are the top three foods I can think of at the moment. I'm going to brag a little, but I make some badass Sloppy Joe's. In rare instances, I add onions and green peppers to mix together with the ground beef and taco seasoning combination. I also have them with tater tots. During the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, I learned how to cook actual meals. One of my coworkers gifted me a Crock Pot, because I had just moved into my new apartment and in a new town. I was on paid leave from the office to keep myself and many other employees safe, but I still got paid bi-weekly. I used this time off to cook different meals, and they turned out surprisingly well. I've since bought a bigger Crock Pot, which I might use to prepare something delicious. The hobby of cooking I picked up during the lockdowns has become even more enjoyable. I do it every once in a while, but again, an enjoyable hobby. The other thing I might make for my birthday are tacos. Better yet, prepare and/or purchase Texas-related foods. No matter what I make, it'll be a great day.

During my birthday, I'll be leaving positive messages to 39 different people on social media either underneath their posts or through direct messages. It's a random act of kindness I plan on performing as a way to show how much I appreciate them. I don't usually go all out for my birthday, because a nice evening at home is something I've been accustomed to for years. This is the way that I prefer to spend my big day. It's not to say that I don't enjoy having a night out and treating myself. I rather reserve going big November of next year when I turn 40. I value simplicity over complications.