Birthdays should be special, I mean you did just survive 365 days. Celebrate, blow out your candles and make a wish. Cut yourself the biggest piece of cake and have seconds, too! Smile because although you may be one year older, in this very moment, you are the oldest you have ever been and the youngest you will ever be.

Another year older, another year wiser. Forget every year, how about every day? Each day is a learning experience and life is just a classroom. Sharpen your pencils and grab a notepad because there is so much knowledge waiting to fill your mind. Whether it be facts your teacher throws at you to remember for the midterm or a story you will never forget that you once heard from a wise man, that saying, “You learn something new every day” is the truth even though you may not realize it. Don’t fight it, embrace it! The capacity of your brain is much larger than you think. There is and always will be plenty of room to store some information that you may use if you ever play jeopardy or friendly game of trivia.

Life isn’t just about living, it’s also about loving. Ever notice how similar those two words are? That’s because they go hand in hand in each and every one of our lives. Some may say they do not need love but that is just the part of them that wants love saying it is not a necessity. Sure, love can be painful and hurt like hell, but it can also make your stomach flutter with butterflies and have you falling asleep with a smile on your face. Protect your heart, but let those who offer it within its closed gates. Because are you really living if you aren’t loving? Another year of living means another year of loving.

Take time to reflect on the past 12 months. Day by day you never really noticed a difference but now when you stop you see the dramatic changes. Maybe this year was the one you put your nose in the books and bumped that GPA up or maybe it was the year you opened up and welcomed new friends into your life. Or maybe this year did not bring you much success or friendship, but you learned from a mistake you will never make again. Either way, you did it and I’m sure what's it in store for you this year will be even better!

That’s the thing about life, it is and always will be so unpredictable. Both a blessing and a curse. How lucky are you to have yet another year to experience all that? Don’t be scared or even worried because this life is truly a gift and how you choose to use that gift is completely your choice. Go change the world, talk to that guy you think is cute, order a large fry and don’t regret it for a second! And remember, birthdays should be special.