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- Here Are 29 Reasons I am Blessed on My 29th Birthday
It’s my 29th Birthday. I don’t know how to feel. Blessed of course, but 29 is that age, for me, where (especially as a woman) I feel like I’m still figuring it out, but also like I should have it way more together. I don’t know if that’s societal pressures or the pressure I choose to put on myself, but it’s there.
Unlike turning nineteen, where so many people around me were telling me I have so much to look forward to in my twenties, twenty-nine seems to be the age that feels a little odd (no pun) and absent of that outside energy that once ushered me out of one decade and into another with excitement. I’m in that in-between of “29 is setting me up for my thriving 30s” and “Oh my goodness, this is the last year in my 20s, where has the time gone?!”
My 20s have been a rollercoaster ride. Way more ups than downs, but the downs have been super down. There were times I hopped off of the ride and asked myself “What the heck is going on?”, but after each one of those moments, I stepped back on, buckled up, threw my arms in the air, and eagerly (even if fearfully) got back on the ride. My 20s have afforded me perspective. I’d love to share some of it with you.
Never too blessed to be stressed, but always too blessed to forget that I’m blessed. Here are 29 “I am blessed” statements from yours truly:
I am blessed to have breath in my body. Life is so precious. Every morning that I’m given the opportunity to open my eyes, place my feet on the floor, stretch my arms to the sky and breathe in life, I am grateful. So many people are not granted that opportunity. I do my best to remind myself that having a new day to begin, is the ultimate blessing.
I am blessed to have fully functioning limbs. As someone who has suffered injury in my career, I’m blessed to have my body intact. My job depends on the well-being of my body, so it’s wonderful to be able to go into 29 all in one piece, feeling stronger than ever.
I am blessed to have my mind. All over the world, I see people who have disconnected from their minds. It’s a stark reminder of how easy it is to go over the proverbial edge and how difficult it can be to find the way back.
I am blessed to have my spirit. I have seen days of sadness, depression, anxiety, stress, fear, and so many other heavy emotions. To still be encouraged is something I don’t take for granted. In light of all that life has thrown at me, I know that I am equipped for what’s ahead, because God is at the center and I believe he has written a beautiful story for me. One of joy, peace, power, and immense resilience.
I am blessed to have my family/loved ones. This goes without saying, but it must be said. Phew! Family by blood and family by choice, to me you all mean the world and more. I have some of the funniest characters in my life, who contribute to the well-being of my mind and my spirit, who love me unconditionally, but with accountability, who charge things to my head and not my heart and extend grace to areas which require more growth. You make life sweeter.
I am blessed to have my community of support. I truly love my supporters. I don’t work a job where the only feedback I get is on my mid-year and annual review. I face critique, when I’m on court and even when I’m not on the clock. That’s pretty much 24/7. So, it means the world to have such a large community of people (both of who I know personally and have never seen a day in my life) rally around and lift me up; always encouraging me to take care of myself and reminding me of just how phenomenal I am as both a human being and an athlete. WORDS OF AFFIRMATION ARE MY SAUCE Y’ALL. Thank you! Thank you so much.
I am blessed to have my job; Tennis. A lot of people forget that although Tennis is their entertainment, it is my job. Like any other job, I too get tired, I too want to quit, I too want a day off, I too want to take a longer lunch break or even a vacation. Nonetheless, it truly has blessed my life and my family. I want to pour back into the sport, just as much or more than it has poured into me.
I am blessed to have my smile. I’m not listing this because I believe I have a beautifully passed down smile cc: Sybil (aka Mom). I am saying this because to have reasons to genuinely smile from ear to ear any day of the week is truly a blessing.
I am blessed to have means to live a stable life. We are in inflationary and price gouging times, with little movement in income for everyday people. To be able to maintain stability, especially in the last two-years, is a blessing I do not take lightly. Sometimes I feel guilty for what I have, because there are so many people who don't have access to the basic necessities (things that should be a birthright): clean water, a roof over your head, nutritious food, medical care, and clothes on your back. My hard work has blessed me in ways that I wish could touch the many people who work just as hard or harder.
I am blessed to have survived the things I thought I’d never fully recover from. Be it the loss of fathers at a young age or bodily injuries, I have worked through and continue to work through things that many other people experience and have not been able to function through, let alone recover from. I don’t make small what I have overcome. When I have time to sit down and really think about it (which is rarely), it’s crazy the heights I’ve been able to reach, even with weights of life on my ankles.
I am blessed to experience huge wins in my personal life and my professional life. I’ve won titles, I’ve graduated college (when I had no desire for school), I’ve launched initiatives that have positively impacted communities, I’ve found my man/best friend, and so many other really dope things.
I am blessed to experience a good therapist who aligns with my needs. I have committed to utilizing a resource (therapy) that I was skeptical about. I’m very proud of myself for sticking to something and giving it a real shot, even in my skepticism. Therapy has given me so many tools and resources to help me better navigate life.
I am blessed to experience romantic love: Jozy. To find a best friend, partner, supporter, and love in one person is so precious to me. I have another home that comes in the form of a human. I feel comforted, I feel heard, I feel encouraged, I feel excited, and most importantly OPEN to experiencing love in its fullest and healthiest form, with Jozy.
I am blessed to experience being in the position to pay it forward or give back. I love what my foundation has been able to provide to individuals and community. This year, my first Doc & Glo educational scholarship added another arm of support that I’m so lucky to be able to extend to others.
I am blessed to experience so many different countries and cultures. My job/profession allows me to travel all around the world. I’ve been exposed to so much cultural currency and I want to intentionally embrace more of that in my 29th year. I don’t want to just be in different cities/countries to play in tournaments. I want to get my feet on the ground and take in all of the beauty and substance that diversity offers.
I am blessed to experience healthy relationships in and throughout my life. To have a reference point from which to grow and establish other relationships is paramount.
I am blessed to experience the era of internet and social media. It’s definitely the blessing and curse. Although it opens me up to so many people with the rottenest spirits; I love it, because it keeps me connected to my loved ones while I spend 90% of my life on the road. It allows me to engage with my supporters and extend Thank you’s to the people who have cheered me on for many years.
I am blessed to experience and be a part of a community of athletes who relentlessly lead with their humanity. It’s been amazing to see how relentless the community has become in terms of reclaiming their humanity. I’m am encouraged and inspired every day by the women and men who demand consideration, kindness and decency. We have to keep that up.
I am blessed to experience homeownership. Being a Black woman and owning a home is a huge accomplishment.
I am blessed to experience joy! More joy in 29 and beyond. That’s what I’m after.
I am blessed to be living with a caring heart. We live in a really tough world and it’s easy to divorce care in this life.
I am blessed to be continuously growing and evolving. I look forward to the ways in which I’ll transform throughout the remainder of my life. I look back and reflect on who/how I have been and I’m able to point out so many areas of development. 29 and beyond, I want to continue to embrace the journey of becoming more of exactly who I am.
I am blessed to be constantly challenged. It’s tough, but it keeps me sharp and on my toes. It gives me that extra boost to push a little harder and remain a student.
I am blessed to be able to dream and believe in the possibilities. There’s so much I still want to do. I don’t think any of my dreams have passed me by. I believe I can explore whatever areas my heart desires and that is beautiful. I don’t have the pressures of a time table or a window closing.
I am blessed to be able to enjoy my own company. I love the people in my life, but I don’t depend on them for wholeness. I’m proud to say that I am whole all by myself. That’s not to say that I have it all together, but I know that everything I need is already inside of me. All I have to have is the willingness to unlock those things and tap into the right people, places and things that help facilitate that development.
I am blessed to be able to share some of myself through writing. This whole experience of writing has been a breath of fresh air. It feels like I’m coming out of my shell, which is crazy to say at 29 years old, but better late than never. It feels good to share with the ‘world’, parts of me that make me who I am: my interest, my family, the causes I support, my foundation, my self-care practices, and everything that’s still to come.
I am blessed to be Black. I’ve delved deeper into history these last couple months and I’ve learned so much more about what it means to be Black. I am so much more confident in, understanding of, and open to the possibilities of just how far I can go because I’m standing on the shoulders of so many ancestors who fought for me to have the life I lead today.
I am blessed to be a woman. It’s just magical.
I am blessed to be 29! Happy Birthday to me and everyone else who shares this special date with me.
It may or may not be your birthday, but I’d love to read some of the reasons you are BLESSED. Drop something in the comments below. I can’t wait to read what you share.
Theme song for my 29th birthday:
TOAST- KOFEE. Listen to my girl.
Toast, yeah (mmh yeah)
Say we a come in wid a force, yeah
Blessings we a reap pon we course inna hand full
We nuh rise and boast
Yeah we give thanks like we need it the most
We haffi give thanks like we really supposed to, be thankful!
Blessings all pon mi life and
Me thank God for di journey, di earnings a jus fi di plus (yeah)
Gratitude is a must, yeah
Me see blessings fall by mi right hand