re:my thirtieth birthday
as some say, thirty, flirty and thriving
May is over, which means my birthday month has come to a close, but what an amazing month it was. I truly made the festivities last four weeks (a good or bad thing depending which close friend of mine you ask) starting with a private workout class and evening of dancing the first weekend of May, and ending with a big birthday party in Williamsburg this past Saturday.
In between those two celebrations I had my actual birthday (the 21st) which was a perfect day filled with my favorite workout class, a long walk by the water, countless sweet messages from friends and family, and dinner with my sister at Miss Ada where we shared lots of hummus and chocolate babka.
Also, Graham and I spent Memorial Day weekend in Hudson, hiking, playing tennis, reading and eating delicious food. I got eight hours of sleep every night and came back feeling completely refreshed. It was one of those weekends that was so much fun, for days after I was in a slight funk. Probably twice a day for three days I said, “I miss the Rivertown Lodge”.
The new moon officially moves into Gemini this Thursday, June 6th, so make sure you schedule some sort of social event, drinks or a walk with friend, where you can talk and laugh a LOT about anything and everything. My sister’s birthday is just around the corner as well, on June 11th. I don’t even have time to wallow in post-birthday blues because this time of year is so jampacked with festivities and the start of summer, two things I love the most.
I journaled one early morning in Hudson to process “entering a new decade”. I didn’t feel different at all, probably because barely a week had passed. But when I thought back to who I was at 20, 21, 24 and 27 I got emotional reflecting on how much I’ve accomplished (multiple yoga teacher trainings, business school applications, new jobs, a cross country bike trip, all the hours of volunteering I’ve put in) and how delighted those versions of myself would be to see who I am right now. I didn’t put my pen down for an hour and ended up filling 6+ pages.
While I don’t have the time to retype all of those musings, I thought it would be fun to share 30 thoughts and learnings - some silly, some serious and some in between.
Play attention to who make you feel most at ease and keep them close. Pay attention to who leaves you feeling drained and keep your distance
If you feel like everyone hates you, go to bed. If you feel like you hate everyone, eat something
You have to be bad at something to be good at it first
Don’t put ketchup on eggs. It’s gross
Comparison is the thief of joy
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent (thank you Eleanor Roosevelt by way of the Princess Diaries)
If it takes him more than two days to reply to your texts, he probably isn’t the one
Call your Grandpa. Let him tell you stories you’ve heard fifteen times. And your Dad
Progress isn’t linear. You will encounter inevitable obstacles, but that doesn’t mean you will go back to zero
The size and shape of your body (and other people’s bodies) is the least interesting thing about you/them
The Real Housewives franchise is excellent programming and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise
Rejection is redirection. In both your personal and professional life
Take as much time as you need to find a therapist. It’s one of the most important relationships you’ll have
If you can’t sleep, get out of bed, wrap yourself in a fuzzy blanket and re-read Harry Potter. It’s actually funnier now than it was 15+ years ago
Be an optimist. Why wouldn’t it work out for you?
If you don’t take time to rest, your body will force you to and won’t be at a convenient time
How you spend your days is how you spend your life. Make sure you invest in hobbies and interests that fulfill you
Don’t drink tequila on an empty stomach.
The only way out is through. You can’t process or move through anything if you avoid it and skirt around the edges
Health = wealth. Stretch before and after you run, actually do your PT exercises, meditate (for more than 5 minutes), get regular bloodwork and evaluate it with a specialist
Wear sunscreen on your face AND your neck
What you put out into the world you’ll receive back - positive thoughts, positive energy, encouragement and support
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. That’s where you’ll grow and change the most
Every day is a good hair day if you just believe
There’s no perfect time to begin. Just start! You may surprise yourself
Black coffee first thing in the morning before a high intensity workout is simply not a good idea
Lift heavy weights! Your future self will thank you
If you move half as fast you’ll realize twice as much. Slow down once in awhile. Take in what’s around you. Take a few deep breaths. What’s the rush?
If you’re having a bad day and everything else has failed, put on Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
Lastly - what I say to my friends and myself alllll the time - there is no right decision. There is the choice you make and that becomes the right decision
As always, THANK YOU for reading 💟
Oh and if you haven’t….don’t forget to wish me a happy belated birthday. ‘Til next time!