As my birthday approaches and year 27 comes to a close, I hope to look back on this age many years from now and remember it as fondly as I do now. While the last year has been hard for many reasons, I have been grateful for the (ample) time to reflect on myself and my choices. I have done many things in the last year and I am proud of where this year of my life ends and the next chapter begins.
The last year has allowed me to take a very critical eye to my life and cut and mend it to exactly what I want. I know where I stand with myself and I know what I need. I have purged social media lists, removing narrow-minded “friends” who aren’t serving a purpose for me. I deleted the Facebook app off my phone and can no longer doom scroll during work and be overwhelmed of people leading perfect social media lives. I sifted out the fakes and liars because I don’t need them and find them exhausting. Frankly, I don’t have time for them and I don’t care they are gone. Setting boundaries was therapeutic. Being candid is a must for me.
I’ve have been selfish the last year. I impulsively decided to get an MBA, knowing the commitment would be strenuous. In “Legally Blonde” when the law professor says, “Do you think she woke up one day and said ‘I think I’ll go to law school today,’?” This is me and my MBA; I love having this in common with Elle Woods. Purely the decision to attend classes has paid off in compensation and responsibilities. I said yes to promotions and new titles because I was confident it was right and what I wanted to do. While I feel like my hair is on fire most days and my personal and professional calendars are jammed pack, I know these are good things. I know the chaos will not last forever and that the challenges I face each day are setting me up for wild success in the future. It is a new form of patience, but the practice insightful.
I sought more ways to help, even though it feels like the world is going to hell in handbasket most days. I gave blood a handful of times (and encourage others to if they can!) and chose more eco-friendly products that help the planet (PSA- shampoo and conditioner bars are awesome). I was appointed to a volunteer city-board to help my neighbors get fences installed and decks covered, even if the rules technically say they can’t. I continue to look for more ways to help others, not just in an immediate sense but with long-sustaining and meaningful donations and actions.
I found more ways to make myself happy without having to rely on others or a social scene, slowing down to savor moments: a glass of wine in the inflatable pool, a novel in the hammock, a game around the campfire, a new recipe on the stove. I still enjoy a good conversation, but with so many people so far away I learned more self-sufficient happiness. I discovered new podcasts and audiobooks to multitask through a walk with the dogs or a lunchbreak in peace. There are an abundance of ways to personally develop further and I have just begun to scratch the surface.
Most importantly, I have figured out exactly who I am and where I stand. And I don’t care what others think of me. I’m comfortable with my strengths and what I have to offer others; years of others making fun of my strengths has finally paid off. I care less and less what others think of me. I have reached the point in my life where all the weird tendencies I always had are rewarded at work and in my personal life. I am tremendously grateful for both the self-acceptance and appreciation of others.
I am unabashedly proud of where I landed during 27. But with that, I bid you adieu, 27. I hope 28 is just as great.
