Well, it happened. There was nothing I could do to stop it. It came and went in a flash…

I had another birthday.

Apparently, that means I’m another year older, though I’m not convinced, and I’ve decided to not participate in that part anymore to tell the truth. Aging is a scam that I refuse to buy into lol. I’ve been asked how I feel about this birthday in particular, and my honest answer- I feel more myself than I ever have.

This past year has been an extraordinary one for me- in good ways and in hard ways. All of which has pushed me to become a better version of myself, and for that I’m grateful. I’m not always a fan of being someone that tends to learn the hard way, but I do know that I always come out better for it if I’m really paying attention to the lessons I’m meant to learn.

Physically, mentally, and emotionally I’m in the best place I’ve ever been in. There are always things I could improve on, and I will continue to work on some things, but overall, I’m proud of where I am at this point. I feel like I’m starting off on a great foot for the first time in longer than I can remember.

I haven’t had a lot of great birthdays, so while I have always believed we should celebrate our lives when they come around, I’ve never done much for them. However, this year I made it a priority. I spent Tuesday night camping, so I could finally watch the meteor shower for the first time. It happens every year on my birthday, but it has taken me 18 years to finally see it. Being under the stars, seeing the Milky Way and so many meteors passing amongst the brightest stars I’ve ever seen thanks to it being a New Moon, was a magical experience. It felt like the Universe was celebrating my birthday for me complete with nature’s fireworks. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start this new year. It was important for me to do that for myself and make this happen after so long. We have to show up for ourselves, ya know?

Birthdays are important to acknowledge. They are a significant marker of growth. It’s a great time to look at how far we’ve come as well as the goals we have that we want to achieve and figure out what we need in order to do that. It’s also a time for reflection on areas we could have done better, where we may have fallen just a little short and figure out what we need in order to improve.

We are so blessed to pass that milestone each year and have the opportunity to grow. We don’t ever have to stop, and that’s such a beautiful realization. We are the captains of our souls, and we get to choose our paths. We decide what’s next. What a powerful gift- being present as a full participant in our lives. A birthday present, if you will 😊

Here’s to another year!