31 is my favorite number.  And 31 is the birthday I’ve been waiting for for years.  Last year I wrote how excited I was to turn 30, and that was true… I couldn’t wait to be liberated from the terrible twenties.  But the big one for me is 31.

This last year has been very good to me.  It started out pretty rough (check out my rocking birthday party of 1 from last year where I just stabbed some candles into some Korean rice cakes), but I think I grew a lot.

I’ve been working hard to be more aware of what I’m doing… feeling… etc.  And recently, I’ve been on a happiness crusade.

But it seems to be working.  Last week, someone referred to me as a “positive” person, which is most certainly the first time that has happened.

So for 31, I just want to be happy.  To do that, I’d like to have one conversation with my friends where English is not spoken.  I’d like to learn more about photography.  And I’d like to go somewhere with my non-single friends and not be the third wheel.

To end, I had a great birthday weekend with some friends… here are some photos:

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Ever since I turned 16, I’ve been looking forward to my 30th birthday.  I just wanted to be grown up.  I wanted to skip dating.  I wanted to skip first days of jobs.  I wanted to skip high school and college and land in a time when I would be old enough to like people my own age, and have the freedom to do what I wanted.

30th Birthday Dukk

So today, as I turn over a new decade, I am excited.  But, I am also thankful for the many experiences I was able to have during the last 10 years of my life.

When I got my first job as an organizer for a gubernatorial race in Connecticut, I would have never guessed that it would then take me to the far reaches of Tennessee (places I had never seen, i.e. Wartburg), Oklahoma, New Hampshire, back to Connecticut, and off to Korea.

A lot of it was impossibly difficult (e.g. working with a sociopath who is now in jail, dating people who probably should be in jail, etc.), but I know I was also impossibly lucky to be able to spend time with some really amazing people.

I am so proud that I was able to be a part of so many causes that I believe in… electing a governor (lost), electing a couple of state Senators (won-won), electing a Presidential candidate (lost), campaigning for marriage equality in Connecticut (won), and bidding for universal health care in Connecticut (won — at least part one).

Politically, I think I’ve accomplished all that I can imagine.  And while the allure of politics will probably never die, I’m happy with my current resume.

And now I’m in Korea.  I’m away from politics.  I’m away from family and friends.  I’m 30.  I’m trying to figure things out.

One thing I think I have figured out is that I need to enjoy the present.  I need to stop trying to skip ahead and just enjoy what I have in front of me.  I can’t imagine my life if I had skipped my twenties.

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And while I could never thank everyone, I did want to mention a few names (randomized by random.org of course) of people who have helped me grow personally, spiritually, and intellectually throughout the last 10 years…

Justine F., Shomari, Karl W., Dr. Atwill., Angie, Sarah R., Amy M., Lynnette G., Anne S., Maureen M., Prof. Hammontree, Dr. Hirschfeld, Anthony G., Tom S., Dave C., Beverley B., Dell, Han, Sarah Rose S., Mom, Carol B., Kate G., John M., Yam, Jerimarie L., Debbie S., Phil S., Emily, Jason M., Charles F., Jim & Gary, Betty G., Johnny R., Ron A., Sarahi, Majune & Big Daddy, Paul W., Lynne, Dan H., Jack, Dad, Annalise S., Bob S., Karen B., Neil F., Jeremy W., Sam S., Dave F.

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