Not Just Another Birthday

Happy Birthday to me!!!!! Yes, it's my birthday today (Friday)-but, this was written a few days ago.
(Note: I am leaving for school, so I will not be posting for a few days, but, I have some guest writers lined up and I know you will really enjoy reading what they have to say- stay tuned!)

Nevertheless, 22 is gone, and 23 is here! I feel old. But yet, I look young, because I still get mistaken to be a middle schooler (it happened 3 times this summer.) I suppose it's something that I'll come to appreciate down the road.

Yes, 23 is here! 23 is a rather odd number. 16 was a reason to celebrate. 18 brought some good times too. 21, well, everyone wants to be 21. And now it's 23, and 23 really isn't a milestone for most people.

But it is for me.

Yes, 23 is a milestone. 22 is gone, 23 is here, and I'm going to be celebrating like I've reached a milestone.

Okay, I imagine by now you're saying, "What's so special about 23 in your books, Dylan? What's the reason for celebration? It's just another birthday."

It's not just another birthday.


I've lived now for 23 years.  I've seen my share of hard times throughout life. But 22 going on 23 was the hardest year of my life. Without any question of a doubt.

Year twenty two marked the onset of severe clinical depression.
Year twenty two marked academic struggles and the pressure to keep up being ill.
Year twenty two marked the loss of my ability to use my legs.
Year twenty two marked the year I had to learn how to walk again.
Year twenty two marked my first anxiety attack and my first panic attack.
Year twenty two marked getting violently ill from testing different medications.
Year twenty two marked me injuring myself.
Year twenty two marked me being deserted, ignored, persecuted, and being blamed by people who I thought were my friends.
Year twenty two marked me falling and fracturing my left foot.

Year twenty two also marked me overcoming all of the above. Some people would have given up and not seen 23.

But not me. I'm now at 23- a new chapter, a new year, a new start.

And it's not just another birthday- it's a celebration. Celebration of victory, and celebration of life!


It's not time to look back and dwell on all the things that have happened.
It's time to look back on them and remind myself how God blessed me through all of them, and how He stayed faithful to me throughout.