Sunday. It’s my birthday today! I am 38 years old. Wow! What a life I have lived, and yet somehow it feels like it has only just begun. I’m still such a newbie here in HK. There is still so much I have to learn…

Today I am here at the brunch spot. There is bamboo scaffolding outside the building so they have decorated it Nepalese-style with prayer flags mixed in with the world flags. It’s pretty cool.

I love how creative people get with the bamboo scaffolding decor. A few months ago, there was a place around the corner that had decorated the scaffolding with fake ivy, vines, and flowers to make it look like a garden when you walked through.

Just one of the many little things I appreciate about living in Hong Kong. I ave no idea how I’ve managed to survive here for as long as I have, but here I am! Still trucking on, in spite of all the odds…

I did not do much for Halloween. I went to the Secret Society on Friday night. It was dead. I left early. Went to the Cantina and then home, I think. I don’t actually remember if I went straight home.

I do, however, remember last night, mostly because I didn’t get drunk. I went out at about 10:30pm to the Cantina, had my free birthday drink, then went to get greasy Indian takeout from my favourite late-nite place. Mostly, I just watched people run around acting like fools all dressed up in their Halloween costumes. Fun!

Now I am here at brunch, all alone, and yet strangely at peace with it. I just finished my pancakes and now I’m about to work on some writing things. I think I was going to write a reflection of what turning 38 means to me, but I think it’s pretty clear already. My life is mine to live now. I don’t have to be controlled by anyone else ever again. I’ve had an amazing year living here in Hong Kong. I have two solid years of international solo travel under my belt. I wrote a new book. I think I’m doing pretty well, especially given how unhappy I was in my old life.

I am grateful just to be here right now. So grateful every day. Hong Kong is bright, vibrant, fast-paced, historic, unique, busy, crowded, diverse, hot, insane. It’s everything a small town in South Dakota could never be. It’s everything my old life could never be. I am so grateful just to be spending my birthday in one of the most exciting cities in the world. I am so much happier here than I ever knew I could be.

What are my plans today?

Oh, maybe just finish this Bloody Mary and head on up the hill to visit the Secret Society. Maybe they will sing to me for my birthday, lol. Truth be told, I don’t feel like doing much of anything except loafing around, but I forced myself to leave the house just in case free shots were available. They are. The manager here just offered me one. What can I say? I take the time to get to know the staff at all of the places I frequent. That comes in handy on special occasions such as today, or when I’m broke AF and people want to give me extra food for free. 🙂

Off now. May this next year be filled with peace, happiness, productivity, money, opportunities, friendship, new connections, and love. Namaste! 🙏🏼