when it's almost 2026, 2019 was seven years ago, and somewhere in between, we all grew up. we changed without even realizing it. the people we were back then, the dreams we had, the fears we carried don't fully define us anymore. some friendships faded, some memories stayed, and some lessons were hard but necessary. we learned to be more patient with ourselves, to understand that not everything goes as planned, and that it's okay to fail sometimes. we learned to let go of what doesn't serve us and hold on to what makes us feel alive. time keeps moving, whether we notice it or not, and we keep growing quietly, slowly, and sometimes painfully. growth is messy, but it's ours.