it hurts a whole lot but it's missed when it's gone

Things I've learned from my 21st birthday:

- There is a very easy way to causally vomit in public. I'll tell you about it when you turn 21.

- The easiest way to get a free place to stay in Norway is by kissing a boy.

- Sometimes dares need to be directed at people who are too chicken to do it. Placing an ashtray in someone's lap who takes a ton of risks and saying "throw it, I dare you. You won't." tends to lead to horrendous situations. I take full responsibility for that one...

- Brazilians are completely capable of picking you up as though you were an 8lb baby.

And probably the most difficult of all:

- Not everyone that you put your heart and soul into pleasing is neccessarily going to feel that they owe the same to you. Sometimes people let you down and you'll never know why. Sometimes someone that you've delegated as one of the most important people in your life forgets the things you've experienced together, forgets the times you've been there for each other and forgets your 21st birthday. Somehow I've taken the time to dedicate one whole One Love entry to this person in the past, an entry about never turning my back on them and loving them for all that they are... It's the hardest thing in the world to not have the love you give returned to you but it's even harder when you've given 6 years of the most love you could ever possibly give. It's almost impossible when you realize the things you've done, the things you've changed, the lives you gave up for this one person.

It's time to stop giving so much of myself to the world. I've handed out pieces of my heart like they're loans and I'm ready to collect them back... with interest. I need myself and my heart to be complete in order for me to move on. I need to take back what I gave and walk away from it all.

Feeling like it's pretty appropriate that the song that explains this best is "Happy Birthday" by none other than The Click Five.