There’s a silly cultural reference and internet phenomena that claims the brain’s prefrontal cortex is considered “fully developed” by the age of 25. In society, 25 is often the age that you’re expected to have most things in life “all figured out” as a mature, settled down adult. But, a month into being a 25 year old myself—here’s what I’ve learned.
— Just a handful of memes about turning 25 that I found funny.
It’s okay to not have everything exactly figured out right now. Life is full of constant evolution and unforeseen circumstances. So while we may wish to have full control and handle of our lives, because at this age that feels like the “responsible” thing to do, it’s okay to feel lost—as long as you don’t let your circumstances dictate your outlook on life and overall mindset. From a young age, I’ve known firsthand that while you cannot control your circumstances, you can choose to make the best out every situation. In a day and age where it’s easy to compare yourself to everyone else you see posting their seemingly “perfect” lives on social media, it’s important to realize your journey is your own, and there’s no “correct” way to navigate this world we all live in.
So for me, 25 is finding joy in the small things. Looking around a room, at a dinner table, surrounded by your loved ones, and feeling immense gratitude. It is rediscovering the things that used to make you happy and provide comfort in your youth, such as the movies or music you used to play, and feeling that same sense of joy all over again.
25 is feeling soul-crushing nostalgia in childhood photographs or home videos—realizing you are looking at a moment in time that you cannot get back, and still feeling content, knowing now that you’re exactly where you are meant to be, and that everything that happens in one’s life can either shape you, or break you. It is realizing how far you’ve come and how much farther you have, still, to go.
For me, 25 was about making a nearly week-long spectacle of my birthday, not out of conceit, but purely from a place of gratitude for life, and all the people I’m lucky enough to have around in mine.
Though only a month into being twenty-five, I vow in this moment to lean more into this gift I have—to keep expressing my thoughts in written words. In time I will continue to treat this blog like my own open journal and share my creations with the world, not under confines of a strict schedule, but freely, as they come to me.
So whether you’re embracing a new age with your “fully developed frontal lobes” or experiencing a “quarter-life crisis”, remember that while growing up seems scary, life is what you make it—this is 25.
After making their way to the World Series last season, the Houston Astros are already off to an impressive start this season. They currently have a healthy lead and hold the first place spot in the AL West division. This is significantly due to impressive starting and relief pitching.
Astros vs. Rangers: June 15th, 2022
During an away game against state rivals the Texas Rangers, starting pitcher for the Astros Luis Garcia was off to a great start with his team leading 6-1 in the first inning. The real excitement though, came in the second inning when Garcia flawlessly struck out all three batters he faced in exactly nine pitches, all of which were strikes. By throwing the minimum nine strikes to record all three outs, he completed a phenomenon more rare than a no-hitter: an immaculate inning.
Starting Pitcher Luis Garcia threw nine pitches for strikes to strikeout Rangers hitters Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Duran and Brad Miller in order.
To put things into perspective, while the last time the Astros franchise recorded such feat was only in 2019, before that it had been fifteen years since any Astros pitcher had an immaculate inning. So imagine baseball fans’ shock when just five innings later,the team achieved something never done before.
When Garcia’s night was done, bullpen pitcher Phil Maton came in to pitch one inning, the seventh inning. Just when you thought something so rare couldn’t possibly occur twice in one game, he proved otherwise. Once again, in another phenomenal outing, an Astros pitcher struck out each three hitters in a total of nine strikes, imprinting yet another immaculate inning into Astros history. To make matters more spectacular, it was the same three hitters Garcia had pitched his immaculate inning against earlier that same day.
Phil Maton just tossed the second immaculate inning of the game, to the SAME THREE BATTERS as the first one … pic.twitter.com/9HUBNWshU5
This video shows both immaculate innings side by side.
Not only did baseball fans in attendance and those watching at home witness Astros history, but Major League Baseball history. This was the first time two pitchers had ever recorded two immaculate innings in the same game, much less two pitchers on one team against the same three batters.
Astros pitchers Phil Maton and Luis Garcia pose for a postgame picture with catcher Martín Maldonado, who caught both pitcher’s immaculate innings.
Following the game, when asked about his performance, Garcia told reporters “It feels so good, because it’s history…I’m so happy for me and for Phil.” After completing the second immaculate inning of the day Maton commented: “It’s super cool…It’s not something you go out here every day and obviously strive to do. Obviously, you’re trying to strike out every hitter you face. Still kind of trying to wrap my head around it. Cool experience.”
Relief pitcher Phil Maton cracked a smile as he accepted high-fives from his teammates after pitching the second immaculate inning of the day, to the same three hitters.
Here are some remarkable statistics that show just how rare immaculate innings are:
Though immaculate innings are more rare than no-hitters, we can now add both to the list of accomplishments by the Astros pitching staff this season in the month of June.
Astros vs. Yankees: June 25th, 2022
Just ten days later, in Yankees Stadium, the Astros pitching staff pitched a combined no-hitter against one of the hottest teams in baseball so far this season. Previously a bullpen pitcher, Cristian Javier now acting as a pitcher in the Astros’ starting rotation dominated through seven innings of work with a career-high 13 strikeouts. In his postgame interview, through an interpreter, the Dominican pitcher stated “I feel really happy, really proud right now for this moment that God has given me.”
Starting pitcher Cristian Javier threw a career-high 115 pitches and 13 strikeouts in seven innings in the Astros’ combined no-hitter.
Following Javier, in a tough outing that included two walks, bullpen pitcher Hector Neris worked through some traffic on the bases to record a clean eighth inning with two flyouts and one forceout for all three outs. The Astros were then just three outs away from a combined no-hitter.
Closing pitcher Ryan Pressly came into the ninth inning in an attempt to keep the no-hit bid alive. After he had a rough outing against this team just two days earlier, resulting in an Astros loss, the pressure was on. This time though, Pressly recorded all three outs without allowing a hit, securing the 3-0 win for the Astros and completing the combined no-hitter. It’s no secret that the New York Yankees are the Houston Astros’ biggest rivals, dating back to 2017 when the Astros beat the Yankees in the ALCS to move on to the World Series. At the completion of the game, the Astros closer told reporters “…to do it in New York, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Ryan Pressly records the last out and completes the combined no-hitter against the Yankees.
This is the second time the Astros have no-hit the Yankees in the Yankees’ home stadium, and the first to happen in the new Yankees Stadium built in 2009. They are the only team to have no-hit the Yankees since 1958, with the first coming on June 11th, 2003. Both have been combined no hitters. This is the 14th no-hitter in team history for the Astros.
Astros pitchers pose with catcher Martín Maldonado after completing a combined no-hitter vs. the Yankees at Yankees Stadium.
There is no denying the talent of this team’s offense, but they have shown why pitchers are so important to the game of baseball. Astros catcher Martín Maldonado, who has caught two immaculate innings and a combined no-hitter all in the month of June, has played an important role on this team with his pitch calling and he has significantly contributed to the confidence and efficiency of these Astros pitchers. Maldonado told reporters “I take a lot of pride behind the plate.” On being a part of both major accomplishments this month Maldonado stated, “Every time you make history is amazing…Those are memories that are going to last [a] long [time].”
It seems like the Astros are heating up this June! This is why watching the sport of baseball is so thrilling, it’s unpredictable and you never know when you will witness history.
》 Faith It ‘til You Make It 《 