This week I turned 24. I like to use birthdays as a time to reflect on my goals (ahem any other type 3s on the enneagram?) and take time to check in with where I want to be vs. where I’m at. But if your like me, this constant striving, this “must push forward always”, this achievement driven personality, it can be easy to loose sight of how far you’ve come. It’s so important for all of us (not just fellow achievers) to reflect with gratitude on where we’ve been in the past and where we are today.
I can still remember a time when Fred and I were just dating and we talked and dreamed about the day when we would have kids, when he would be a police officer and I would be a yoga teacher, when we would live in a house and not an apartment, the list went on. And in the midst of constantly striving to do better, to create more, to be more, I so often loose sight and forget to celebrate that we have the things that we once prayed for. So I’ve enjoyed spending the past week reflecting with gratitude on how far I’ve come and on how far we’ve come. My goal at 23 was to make Forbes most 30 successful under 30 list but I highly doubt I’ll ever end up on that list. And I’m okay with that. (And yes you can go ahead and laugh that I ever even thought I would end up in Forbes).
I don’t want to ever be so caught up in achieving that I forget to be grateful for what’s already been done. I will always strive for more, for better, for change but that is not the pursuit my life depends on. Even if I don’t end up on some success list, at the end of the day, I have faith that my story will end well and that my story ties into a much larger one and I can rest in that. So I encourage you friends to continue to strive, but to balance that striving with gratitude and to make time to reflect on how far you’ve come.
And now, just for fun I’m doing a log of some of my favorite things at 24 so that I can look back on this in a year from now and see how things have changed (also, you should totally do this too on your birthday! If you don’t feel comfortable doing it publicly on the internet, you could journal it).
Favorite quote: “The purpose of influence is to help those without it.” Rick Warren “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”Christine Caine
Favorite song: SO hard to pick just one… but I love Demi Lavato right now and all of her songs (heart eyes) and I love AJR “Sober Up”.
Favorite art form: Fiber arts and Writing.
Currently reading: Yoga for Depression, Yoga for the Creative Soul and The Artists Way.
Goals for the year ahead: To love my family well – to put my family ahead of my work/achieving. To be intentional in my interactions with others and loving towards people. To open a brick and mortar storefront. To do my part in bringing Fair Trade, Eco Friendly, Artisan goods to consumers in a way that feels relevant and practical.
Looking forward to most about 24: opening a store and not having 3 kids 3 and under anymore!
Thanks for reading along friends and if you do this little exercise I’d love to hear how it goes. Also, thank you everyone who wished me a happy birthday and made this week so special. My heart is full and I am grateful for each one of you! Stay fabulous friends.
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