“You’re going to be twenty six! In the blink of an eye you’ll be thirty!” My friend exclaimed excitedly. Where she was filled to the brim with excitement at the thought of me adding another year under my belt. I was a little terrified. I was struck with a lingering mixture of fear and disappointment. More so because she had mentioned that thirty was around the corner. “Thirty” I mouthed breathlessly. For me thirty signified mortgages, marriages, money and in some cases children. Thirty looked aspirational, dressed sharply, enjoyed martini’s during ‘school nights’ and smelt like coffee and something expensive from Tom Ford. Essentially the very opposite of what I am right now.
Twenty Five felt like yesterday – Partly because it was literally yesterday (ahahaha!) and partly because the year practically flew by. Twenty Five looked like sleepless nights because of deadlines, it looked like eyes rimmed with grey, baggy sweatpants and unwashed hair tied back into a make shift bun. Twenty Five sounded like lo – fi, quiet tinkering jazzy beats intertwined with London Grammar’s ‘Big Picture’ on repeat in a corsa. Twenty Five tasted like cheap coffee that dyed your lips a deep shade of brown on the third cup, it tasted like Jammy Red Roo wine from a first date and far too many takeaways from Nabzy’s with ‘extra red salt please!’ Twenty Five smelt like food that had been left in the fridge for too long, it also smelt like fresh washing and vigourous spritzing’s of YSL’s Black Opium. Twenty Five felt like and teen romance films in all the worst ways and then it felt like things were ‘falling into place’ as it were and then in an instant, Twenty Five felt like a sharp pain in my chest, it felt like the age of loss, fear, change and unease.
Twenty Five was a year of ‘one step forward two steps back‘.
Twenty Six however… Oh Twenty Six!What an age it will be! Twenty Six will look like a crisp glass of cool water, hydrating, nourishing, cooling. It will look like my favourite pair of butt enhancing jeans, the ones I wear when I want to feel a little more confident. It will look like new faces, new friendships and a new relationship. Twenty Six will sound like ‘Wonder’ by Hillsong United, it’ll flow through my eardrums, through my body and out of my extremities and the world around me will be filled with it’s spirit. Twenty Six will taste like the world in all it’s glory, it will be a banquet, and I will be seated at the head of the table, starved and ready for my fill. Twenty Six will smell like a field in summer – warm, intense, enchanting and exciting, it’ll smell like the freshly roasted coffee in quiet cafe’s that brings people together on a daily basis. Twenty Six will feel like I’ve just run a marathon and beaten my own time, it will feel like pride, patience, excitement and fresh starts. Twenty Six, oh my friends! Twenty Six will be my testimony. Of this I am sure and I cannot wait to share this journey with you. I’m speaking it ALL into existence!
25, you taught me, you changed me, you broke me. 26, you will nourish me, you will heal me, you will make me.
Here’s to twenty six, s/o for God allowing me to see another birthday.
What I’m Wearing…
DRESS – asos (old) | HEELS – primark | JEWELLERY c/o swarovski | LIPSTICK – colourpop
x
Happy birthday darling. Continue to shine!www.ladesblog.com
So beautifully written! Growing old is always a bit hard but it's great to try and embrace each new year the best we can. Happy birthday! xLaura // Middle of Adventure
Wishing you a happy birthday and an extremely happy 26th year. If you think 26 will be good, just wait, the best is yet to come!
I LOVE that dress. Happy birthday! My 28th is coming up in two months I just realized and I'm like yeah sure, whatever. /o
Happy birthday and I hope that 26 brings you all of the things you put out into the universe to attract. Hell, I might borrow that mantra because lawd knows 25 was hell, but nearly two months into 26, I feel like things are going to be looking up and up and up! Happy birthday again :)www.theindiebyline.com
Happy birthday! I love the dress in this pictures! I'm sure 26 would be great with you!LovePILITo Read with Tea
Sade, every single element of this post is gorgeous. Your writing is absolutely dazzling and infectious, and I am so excited to watch you grow throughout this year! Thank you for being such a light <3
Happy Birthday Sade!I pray 26 really does heal and nourish you!xxx
I found myself saying Amen at almost every part of this post. I wish you all the very best this year Shade and I pray 26 is all that you imagine and more. Love you! http://www.cassiedaves.com
Happ birthday Shade!!! I hope 26 really brings all you hope for and more ššwww.adoseoftola.wordpress.com
What a beautifully written post, I love it. Wishing you the best that life has to offer. xxCoco Bella Blog
Happy birthday, beautiful!I'm wishing you all the best for the next year of your life!