Happy birthday Harry Potter!

If he were a living, breathing wizard, he would be 32 years old today. I know some people don’t get the whole “Harry Potter thing,” but it was a big part of my childhood. In my fourth grade class, Ms. Zwirn, my teacher, would read us a chapter from the book every day. It quickly became my favorite part of class and I fell in love with Harry Potter faster than Lord Voldemort could say “Avada Kedavra.” (I know I shouldn’t be throwing out Unforgivable Curses like that, sorry!).

I was the same age as the characters as the books came out though, so I always felt a huge connection with them. They were all my friends. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Hagrid and even Malfoy every once in a while. I hated Snape just as much as everyone else did, and I knew that I would have been in Gryffindor the moment the sorting hat touched my head.

This series taught me about bravery, unconditional love, friendship and so much more. It is part of who I am and it is part of who I will grow to be. So, I’d like to say thank you to Harry for this incredible journey over the past 11+ years. Happy Birthday.

…

When I was younger, all I wanted was to be a “grown up.”

Yet here I am a little more than a month away from a birthday, 15 days from moving across the country to pursue my dream, living on my own, and at times I want nothing more than to be as young and carefree as I once was.

I feel like an adult. I (sort of) look like an adult. I guess I am one. But, no matter how many candles I put on my birthday cake, a part of me will always be young. I think that’s what a part of growing up should be – realizing that you should never completely let go of that child-like wonder.

I will always remember pogs, Pokemon, Harry Potter and Rugrats. I don’t plan on letting go. You shouldn’t either. No matter how “old” we all get, we should still imagine, play, and explore.

So, go do something today that you haven’t done in years. It will feel amazing, I promise.