I am thirty and thrilled!

Finally! I had reached a point in my life where I am happy to celebrate a birthday, and how wonderful that it is was my thirtieth!?!? And everyone was amazing and I had the best time of my life...so here is the evidence of my bliss!
The speech:
"Welcome to my 30th birthday celebration and thank you for coming and sharing this evening with me!
Some of you have known me for years and some have only known me for months. I have never enjoyed birthday gatherings. As some of you know birthdays for me have been a struggle. However this celebration is different. This birthday is a milestone that marks more than an age for me. All of you present know that this last year of my twenties has been momentous because I committed to furthering my academic pursuits and I have also struggled with personal problems.
I have been able to rise to the top and discover a strong community, which is strongly represented here tonight. Everyone who has been invited has had a part in helping me grow, achieve and overcome my past struggles. For the first time in my life I want to celebrate, and as much as it is about turning 30 it is more about you, my friends, who are sharing this day with me.
I am keenly aware of the strength of community. In fact it is my lament that the sense of community is often overtaken by the popular mantra of individualism. In my life I have been raised by community, nurtured by community, taught by community and come to learn the meaning of family through community. And because of community I have more than hope, I have knowledge that my thirties and my life will be rich and purposeful!
Every single one of you here tonight, is a facet of me and thank you very much for being in my life and being my community!"