40, Fabulous, & Still Figuring It Out!

So this is 40 - fabulous and flawed and 100 percent authentically ME and I like her a lot!!

So how did I get here? A decade of work for sure and I’m still a work in progress, but you don’t have to be as slow to the lessons as I was at times! These are my biggest takeaways and “big sis” advice…. This is what I know is true!!!

• - Give yourself some grace. No matter what stage or season you are in YOU are trying your best, don’t compare YOUR journey to anyone else’s because it is uniquely YOURS!!!

• - LOVE your body right now!! Not ten pounds from now, not when you reach a size or number on the scale! Love it right now for the simple fact that it has gotten you this far!! I look back at my 16-year old self, and remember thinking my body then had “imperfections”…what!?! Let’s be real, if I had that body NOW I’d walk around naked all the time - proudly. 🤣 But in all seriousness, perspective is a precious gift, don’t wait to be decades from today to appreciate what you have and who you are RIGHT NOW!

• - DRINK THE WATER AND WEAR THE SUNSCREEN! I know it’s not sexy or exciting, but it really does make a difference!! Your skin will thank you!!!

• - It’s OK To Say NO! NO to things that don’t serve you or your goals, NO to relationships that bring you down, NO to things that don’t bring you JOY! Yes, we still have responsibilities and bills, you probably can’t move back into your old room at your parents because you are saying NO to responsibilities and adulting! But saying no to some things is freeing, I wish I would have learned that lesson sooner!

• - YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD AND IT’S NEVER TOO LATE! Yes, you can go back to a school at this age! Yes, you can start a business or change careers! The greatest successes in my life have come from those leaps of faith. The leap to move across the country, the leap to walk away from a successful career, the leap to start a business, these were all moments most people around me doubted, but I knew in my gut I needed to do them and was willing to fail and learn and keep trying until I figured them out!! You deserve a full life, not one filled with regrets!! Start today, if you have the passion and are willing to put in the work, now is your time, DON’T waste it!

• - Finally, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so honor the gift that is today. It’s easy to put things off until tomorrow, next week, or next year, but the harsh reality is that isn’t guaranteed for any of us!!! I lost someone very special to me when he was only 24; he didn’t get to experience all the things I complained about in my 30’s or the extreme joy I’ve experienced in the last 16 years! I want to do my best to live a life that honors him and sees each day, no matter how hard, as a gift! Living a life with gratitude is a mental shift I made in my 30’s and one I still work on to this day to make a priority! Find joy in this journey, even in the tiny pockets during hard times, and you will really be honoring your gift of time on this planet !!

• Wishing you another year of love, laughter, joy, and strength!! I’m honored to be in community with you!! Thank you for the birthday love and messages, I’m so blessed to have you all in my life! I hope this post is encouraging, no matter what season you are in YOU are not alone! Please spread the love and share this or tag someone who needs to hear it too and please leave your advice for getting older and wisdom you wish you knew in the comments. 👇👇👇

• Cheers to another amazing year sweet friends!! I’m here cheering YOU on!