Dear Journal, “There's glitter on the floor after the party… Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby” Birthdays have a funny way of making you look back—not just at the past few days, but at the entire year that brought you to this moment. I’ve spent this week replaying the sparkle, the hugs, the music… but also the quiet in-betweens. The nights I doubted myself. The mornings I wasn’t sure I was doing enough. The hard conversations. The small wins. The deep breaths. And somehow, all of that led here. This year, I’ve stretched and stumbled and soared in ways I never expected. I said yes to new experiences, took time to heal old hurts, and surrounded myself with people who truly see me. The birthday celebration felt like the culmination of that—a living, breathing thank-you letter to the version of me that kept going, even when it was hard. The party is over now. The glitter’s been swept up. The balloons have started to sag just a little. But what’s left? That lingers. The joy, the love, the knowing that I’ve grown. And as I pack away the mask and slip out of the heels, I carry something new with me: a deeper appreciation for the journey—and a quiet excitement for what comes next. Here’s to another beautiful, messy, magical trip around the sun. With gratitude and a sparkly heart, Alex
