This year, I kept the celebration to a minimal level. Unlike my past parties, I decided to cut down on the helium balloons, fancy dresses, pop music, mouth watering food and substitute it for a free Boost drink, 3 hour nap, Running Man, classic authentic Japanese cuisine for dinner, and a delicious 'Black Forest' chocolate cake. What I liked about the way I celebrated my 19th birthday was the simplicity of it.
All I needed was the lovely birthday wishes, joy, love and laughter given by my friends and family. It's these small things in life that paint a bigger picture and mean more. Despite the misery in the beginning of the year, I guess all I needed was to be with my family and treasure these moments. For some people, maybe only once in a lifetime. You only turn 19 once! I can't go back in time and change what I was not satisfied with. Instead of thinking how bored and less fun this year's birthday was going to be, why not make positive moments out of this 'extravagant birthday'. I'll let the photos on the right speak for itself.
To be honest, I contradict the concept of age 19 not being a milestone. I mean, its the last year of your teen years before you hit your twenties. To me, it is an important age that should be celebrated. They should change the legal age to nineteen rather than eighteen.
Last Sunday, I got so busy that I almost forgot that it would be my birthday in a weeks time. That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept on thinking about my life and my future, and what I had accomplished so far in my teenager years. Here are a few things:- graduated high school, got my driver's licence, and is currently studying a Uni degree that I like. Surely, there was more; but, that was ALL I could think of. So, I thought of what I hope to achieve at the age of 19. Now, let me think! I hope to complete my degree and graduate. I hope to ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Oh dear! What do people generally hope to achieve once they reach the age of 19? So I asked all teenagers' best friend the INTERNET. Of course, Google was our second BFFs.
Urban dictionary defines 19 as: -
1. The Canadian drinking age. 2 years better than 21.
2. The last year of ya "teens". BINGO!
3. The worst age ever. Apparently, nothing exciting happens when you turn 19. In the U.S. you've been a legal adult for a year, and you can't do anything new legally for another 2 years.
3. To 'be 19', or to have 'gone 19' essentially means that something has gone wrong, is just plain weird, or is inexplicable............ HUH?!?!
4. This age is apparently a sack full of lamesauce. It's basically like being 18 again, only older........................... lamesauce? really? That's so lame!
5. The age where you can legally buy cigarettes and other tobacco products in the state of New Jersey. ...... Well, first of all, thank goodness I don't live in New Jersey, Second, I don't smoke and will never see myself holding a cigarette bud. Third, I gag every time I can smell cigarettes. Fourthly, you will die from it! Smoking is a dangerous liaison!
On the other hand, someone posted this question on the internet, "Is a 19-year old girl with 159cm short?" This made me LOL!
The answer was, that "by 19 most young women are done with height growth. Height is all about genetics & nutrition. If your parents & ancestors were short, that could be a perfectly normal height. If you diet or overall health is bad, then not much to be done at 19 years old." DAMN it! :(
A year later, when I begin to live in my early 20s, I hope my reflection on the age of 19 is far from what has been listed above and less shallow. I hope I can look back and say that I concluded my teen years with satisfaction, joy and no regrets. But, I want to remain young at heart! :)
