🌺 Birthday Bloom

a poem to celebrate 28 laps around the sun

Aloha fellow learn-it-all 👋

Greetings from Honolulu, Hawaii!

I am filled with delight to write out the date: February 15th.

The day after Valentine’s Day. The date that I write out in so many places as the day I entered this beautiful world.

I woke on this special day to being serenaded with happy birthday “Sto Lat” (Live 100 years) by my Polish friend and roommate with raspberry chocolate cake and a matcha latte. I am spoiled and it’s nice to indulge. Sometimes.

I walked over to one of my favorite beaches Kaimana. I set the floor goal of swimming 2800 yards for starting my 28th trip around the sun. I had extra energy balled up and overachieved at 3K yards in less than an hour. I even made two new sea turtle friends on the swim!

Anywho, what’s on the docket? I was planning to share a list of 28 anecdotes alongside this news of 28th year. I’ve done that for  27, 26 and 25th birthdays. I enjoy writing lists and telling short stories and the stats tell me that it’s usually quite popular.

Alas, that piece isn’t ready yet and I want to go play today, so I’m not going to stress about it. After all, I share these letters to express what is going on in my head and heart hoping to add more fun to my life, so I don’t want to get away from that intention.

Instead, I will share something that feels good enough. Today what is good enough is the following poem. :-)

Now, let’s dive into letter 197 from a learn-it-all. Enjoy!

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If you are new here or missed last week's edition, you can catch up on the past letters here. If you are reading this for the first time, I’d love you to sign up below to join the other learn-it-alls:

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📜🖋 Poetry Corner

🌺🎊 Birthday Bloom

I woke today as twenty eight 
Feeling great, after swimming with a mate.
My stroke gets me gliding 
As the ocean gets me tiding
There is no more hiding

My mind, with thoughts like a web–
Ideas in my head go sliding.
My body moves with feelings that ebb–
The world is providing
I am of nature in nature. 

My spirit feels joy and shining
To my surprise, dreams are aligning.

It’s all because decisions made brave
That indeed deserves the rave.

I am in the business of blooming
As a perennial with abundant peaks.
Life’s ups and down, and needs pruning—
As a plumeria would say, if she could speak.

How blessed am I?
Salt on my skin
Brine in my brows
Cake in the kitchen
Serenades of Sto Lat
Friends having fun.

Was this all in my fate?
Sometimes I feel like I am late.
I remind myself,
I am just on time
Just like this rhyme.

All of this gratitude,
feels like a platitude:
Timing is timing.

I am twenty eight
and I am feeling great!

🎥 Video to Watch

Captured in the pool of where I stayed in Uluwatu, Bali.

🔍Word to define

Perennial: lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring: his perennial distrust of the media | perennial manifestations of urban crisis.

• (of a plant) living for several years. Compare with annual,, biennial: tarragon is perennial.

• [attributive] (of a person) apparently permanently engaged in a specified role or way of life: he's a perennial student.

• (of a stream or spring) flowing throughout the year.

📸Photo of the Year

This is a favorite shot of mine taken back in June. It encapsulates the free-flowing, open, fun, and joyous person I try to be every day.

🙏Shoutouts

• To all who have supported me on my journey. It’s too many to list but who comes to mind (based on recent communications) are Mom, Dad, Mitch, Steph, Emily, Hannah, Sara, Marta, Sam, Tom, Dan, Allison, Carter Anne, Miro, Sanjeevi, Kimmy, Kip, Bronson, Uncle Clay, Aria, and Steven

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I appreciate you reading this!

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Keep on learning 😁

Mahalo 🌺

Jen

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