I spent my 26th birthday in Mykonos this year. Purposely with girlfriends, purposely away from any boy drama that could have gotten in the way of celebrating the fabulousness of being here, being me, being in this place and time. It was wonderful. Likely one of the best vacations I’ve ever had. We were five girls total, roaming the little Greek island in an open top jeep. It was pure chaos, laughter and togetherness. I am beaming just remembering it all.
For nearly a week, we spent our days on the beach, before hauling in for dinner at around 9pm. By 1am, primped and perfumed, we were out on the streets of Mykonos with the thousands of other party-goers dressed to impress. And we stayed out until 7am in morning, grabbing breakfast on the way home before getting a few hours sleep to start the new afternoon. It was heaven! The streets of Mykonos were packed full of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. Gorgeous men and women, perfectly tanned and toned walked the streets in the ridiculously skimpy outfits allowed only on a Greek island during the summer.
The night of the 27th, we stayed at the beach even after sundown, dancing to the Greek hip-hop music blaring from the nearby bar. We danced in the water, took off our swimsuits and screamed our smiles in the wide open sea. It was so beautiful and freeing – five girls, our bare bodies cradled in the warm, calm waters of aegean, dancing our laughter and womanhoods into dusk. I don’t think I was more happy than in that moment – naked in the ocean, laughing into the open sea, celebrating the amazing journey of the past year. In that moment, I knew that 26 would be a great year, one of the best. In that moment, I knew that I would be okay – regardless of the confusion and personal hardships that I’ve had to battle with in my head, I had no doubt that great things were possible.
We met some amazing people – Italians, Greeks, Swiss. It was an international crowd – all adults, all looking for a good time. In Mykonos, under the protection of our clan of 5 girls, we were invincible. We talked to anyone and everyone, we’d dance, we’d flirt, we’d share stories and laugh. The safety net that we had in each other allowed for a type of inhibition that isn’t possible any other time. We chased cars of boys and were chased back in return. We talked about life, love, our bodies, boys, sex, work, our dreams, fears and wishes. It was a weekend where we could truly be ourselves but also revel in the sheer high of being able to re-invent ourselves each new night, with each new person that we met. It was incredible.
We ate fantastic food at small family-run taverns. We hung out the back of our jeeps, testing fate and safety, as the sunset swept hair in our faces. Even our walks home from the high hills of Mykonos, during the quiet sunsets on hot afternoons were so full of grace and beauty. In my photographer’s eye, I have never seen light touch skin so wonderfully as it did in Mykonos. The whole holiday, all five glorious days, were touched with grace.
26 will be touched with grace also. I know that wonderful, amazing, fairytale things await. I just know it.
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