I write my children letters on their birthday so why not write one to myself? I try to be a reflective individual. Being reflective helps me to be more grateful for everything life throws my way.
31 brought change. Not a lot of change, but little changes. It brought a new business partner, new friends, new daycare families, new babies (not my own), a new minivan, blonder hair, and a vacation away from the minis. The older I get the more I crave newness. Trying new things, going new places, anything that's new, or new again, to me. I take comfort in my regular day to day, but I start to get antsy if it's been too long since I've tried something new. I'm not sure if this has to do with getting older or having kids and the monotony of the every day with young kids.
I crossed two places off of my bucket list: Wisconsin Dells and Las Vegas. I climbed mountains and hills on our road trips, zip lined, and danced freely in front of others. I roller and ice skated for the first time in (at least) ten years. I hiked across a frozen lake and learned to ice fish. I decided not to embrace my graying hair any longer and started getting blond highlights in my hair for the first time in ten years.
I didn't accomplish everything I wanted to this year. I didn't get book #2 published, I didn't get a start a book #3, I didn't get to do the play I had wanted to do. Yet, I don't look at these as failures. The older I get, the more I view failures differently. I look at it as I tried something and it didn't have the ending I had originally planned. If life has taught me anything, it's to embrace the unplanned and go with it.
This year I took time to enjoy life. I made a point to slow down this winter and enjoy the little things: playing board games, taking naps, homemade soups, reading books, Netflix, staying home.
So here's to you 32! May you bring more love and laughter, road trips, adventures, go easy on the craziness (I've got plenty of that to go around), give me breaks when needed, and more of the people I love in my life. I'm open to changes, big or small, or no changes at all. I know I'm only two years in, but my thirties are looking pretty promising. Crossing life goals off the list and making each year better than the last.
The older I get, the better I handle life's challenges and disappointments. While I may not have loved them at the time, I certainly am grateful for the experiences they brought. So whatever you bring 32, don't let me forget that everything happens for a reason.
I'll see ya in a year for #33.
