Another Year Around the Sun

By: Jillian Racoosin Kornmeier, F4SC Executive Director

Birthdays are more than a celebration of another year around the sun. They’re a quiet invitation to pause, to look back on moments of joy and challenge, growth and change, and to look ahead with intention and hope. They remind us how far we’ve come and how much possibility still lies ahead.

As I mark another year, I’m again reminded of the profound role that family, friendship, and social connection play in shaping a happy, meaningful life. These relationships, whether daily or distant, lifelong or newly formed, anchor us through the changing seasons. They are where I find laughter, comfort, and a sense of belonging. This year was made even more special by welcoming our son Miles – every hug trying to communicate that we belong to him and he to us.

While a summer birthday was sometimes sad growing up with my school friends traveling or busy with activities, it also meant for most of my childhood that camp was coming. Some of the brightest and most joyful memories growing up come from the summers I spent at Camp Seafarer in Arapahoe, North Carolina. Those days were filled with sun-soaked freedom, laughter echoing across the mess hall, and the deep camaraderie of being surrounded by girls and women who truly loved being together. Camp was more than just a place – it was a feeling of pride, fun, and self-growth. It was a community built on singing silly songs, sucking fireball candy, and sailing early mornings on Sunfish.

I am devastated to know experiences like mine were cut short for girls, counselors, and families across central Texas. My heart breaks for the families impacted by the recent events at Camp Mystic in Kerr County. For so many, camp is a sanctuary. To see a space meant for play, joy, and belonging become marked by tragedy is unfathomable. The fear and horror the families are facing right now is a stark reminder of how quickly peace can be shaken.

In moments like these, when we want to look away because it feels too much to bear, I try to remind myself of the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of community. Even in darkness, there is light in the ways we show up for each other. The rescue stories, the bus sing-along clip, and numerous resource bulletins being shared are symbols of hope and courage. I believe immense grief can co-exist with the belief that healing is possible. We are stronger together, especially when the world feels heavy and life feels so precious.

I think birthday wishes are a thing no matter how old you are. The list of people I wish good things for seems to get longer each year, but the core elements stay the same – a sort of yoga mantra in my head: may you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be at peace.

As a forever YMCA camper, I’ll sign off the way we sang each night before we lay our heads down in our bunks. My prayer for the Texas campers: Day is done, gone the sun, from the lakes, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.