Thirty-Second Birthday Gratitude to You All

This is my face when embracing new challenges as a 32-year-old man about to complete my Master's in American Studies degree in a few months with the completion of my Master's Thesis. I know I should have proclaimed this over three weeks ago. However, I want to thank you all for greeting me on my 32nd birthday three Mondays ago. I am elated and humbled by all of your wonderful wishes, and they have helped me become more motivated to accept every new challenge I encounter as an artist, a performer, a scholar, an online reviewer, and a total media, popular culture, literature, and music enthusiast.

As much as I would have loved to thank you much earlier, I have been dealing with my Master's Thesis. I am currently in my 27th going on the 28th page out of the standard 60 pages, let alone the maximum limit of 66 pages. There is going to be a fair bit of close reading and analysis of a certain 1990's Black American sitcom that I hold dearest to me starring a certain movie star who started as a rap star in his prime, hint hint wink wink. Therefore, I am filled with high motivation to get this last piece of academic work for Humboldt done so that I can graduate with excellently flying colors. Throughout this current tenure doing my thesis, I have also learned to embrace critical objectivity both as a scholar and as a media, pop culture, and music enthusiast. Healthwise, I am glad to remain no longer obese. Granted, I am still madly keen on losing 3 to 4 more stone (42 to 56 pounds or 19.1 to 25.4 kilograms) of my excess weight. Nevertheless, I am glad to remain mobile and physically independent, and I have also discarded the foolish victim mindset. I'm strong enough to stand and thrive well.

I want to wrap this up by thanking all of you for the warm birthday wishes. Thank you to my parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, family members from other families, fellow online reviewers, fellow actors, fellow filmmakers, fellow artists, fellow writers, university colleagues, fellow singers, fellow musicians, and fellow enthusiasts of popular culture, media, and music. You have all made my transition to my 32nd year in life an exciting one. Have a grand spring/summer season.