re-birth

I turned 27 last week.

—

It was the first birthday in years that I’ve looked forward to getting older. I always used to be afraid of the years coming. I could never quite put my finger on why. I’ve just realized this year it was because I felt the years were being wasted living a life I was not truly choosing or happy with.

—

I have spent my whole life making decisions that would make other people the happiest or that seemed like the best thing to do based on society’s expectations, but maybe didn’t align with what I truly wanted. This year, I started changing that. Radically.

—

I have never felt more full of life or excited. I am choosing me above everything and it is exhilarating.

—

So here’s the message:

• You are the most important person in your life, as controversial as that sounds. Not your husband, or kids, or parents. You are. No one else on earth has spent every single morning and evening with you. No one else knows every thought and feeling you have. If you have your own back, all else falls into place. (That doesn’t mean you can’t take care of other people too, but you have to make sure your needs are met.)

• How you treat yourself reflects how you do everything. If your self-care is half-assed, everything will be half-assed.

• Self-care often means doing the hard shit. And it can also mean the exact opposite. Learning when each is appropriate is key to well-roundedness.

• If you aren’t looking forward to the future, what is missing in your life or taking away from it? There is a quote from a friend that has sat on my mind constantly since she posted it (she doesn’t even know this was so impactful to me): “All I know is, if you aren’t happy where you are, change it. No matter what you think anyone might think of you. This is your life. You should be so full of joy that you cry when you think about what’s happening and coming.” If your life isn’t making you cry tears of joy, change it. I don’t care what it takes. Nothing else matters.

—

Here’s to 27.