GRWM to turn 38

What if turning a year older mattered more than turning the calendar page?

By the time you read this, I’ll be 38. And all that means is that I was 37 when I wrote this.

I was planning this whole post about how precious life is and how we shouldn’t wait to celebrate “milestone” birthdays…

But what’s actually been tugging at my mind is looking forward at what I want for myself in the year to come, something I’ve typically reserved for January 1st.

The problem is that it’s right after Christmas and between you and me, I’m fully in the throes of drinking wine at 10am and surviving off of a variety of cheeses and candy.

And if we’re really being honest with one another…

I’m not even fully ready to think about being a functioning member of society again until at least mid-January. And then I’ve “lost” half a month and frankly I’m sick of pretending January 1st is the reset day. Are you with me? (Unless your birthday is January 1st in which case, carry on).

Anyway I’ve just been thinking about how my birthday is actually the time when I’m the most reflective and naturally set up to set goals that align with who I am becoming and not just the shiny penny version of myself that seems so appealing on January 1st.

So this year, I’m trying something different.

I’m using my birthday to set intentions for myself. And that frees up my January 1st to stuff my face with a holiday treat, take a mid-day nap, and appreciate the beauty of bedrotting.

When I blow out the candles on my plate of macarons (or maybe I’ll go with a Black Forest cake?) this time next year, here’s what I want for myself:

1. Step into my identity as a writer.
   I’ve wanted to write for a living since I was a kid. The thought of being someone who has written a book, who gets paid for the words she writes always felt so glamorous.
   
   I’ve had so many book ideas over the years but none that I ever sat down to write. In years past I’ve owned a business but the thing I liked to do the most was write, and talk about concepts I’d created. Today, my full time job is in email marketing and until recently most of my job was centered around writing email campaigns.

   

   So in way, I was making a living writing. But recently my role scope changed and now instead of being a ✨🔮🎀💅🏻 marketer for the girls, I’m a 👩🏼‍💻📊💵🖤 marketer. And it’s left me feeling SO unfulfilled in my career.
   
   But I’ve taken that and turned it into a chance to use my good creative energy for my own writing. That’s why started this blog. That’s why I’m 4 chapters into the first book in a spicy cozy mystery series. And that’s why I’m outlining the chapters for a thriller.
   
   Ya girl’s gotta write. By this time next year, I’d like to see this blog have actual human beings reading it (shout out to you if you’re reading from the archives!). I’d like to have self-published my spicy cozy, and I’d like for the booktok girlies to plus it up and help me fulfill my lifelong dream of being a published author that people actually pay to read.

2. Learn something new.
   I don’t have any hobbies. And I want a hobby that’s “fun fact” worthy.
   
   You know what I mean, when you have to share a “fun fact” about yourself and someone always has a story about traveling someplace exotic or how they won their hometown’s apple pie bakeoff 3 years in a row?
   
   Or even how they may be a data analyst but on the weekends they’re a competition aerial acrobat?
   
   In my free time you can usually find me:
   - Bedrotting
   - Playing Stardew Valley
   - Reading
   - Watching Hallmark movies
   - Day drinking on patios

   

   Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy myself when I do those things. But I’d also like to try something new this year and develop a new skill. I don’t know what that will be yet.
   
   I want to try some classes out. Pottery. Sourdough making. Rock climbing. Woodworking. Shit I don’t know.
   
   But next birthday, I want to share about the year I spent doing something I can tell a cool story about.

There are other things I want to accomplish of course. Other personal goals like getting a good workout schedule going, paying off my credit cards, blah blah.

But those two things up there? Those ones are the ones I’m putting my stake in the ground on right now.

I hope you’ll be back next year when I share how 38 went and look ahead at what I want for 39. As for now? I’m gonna get to writing (dreaming about that January cheese though).

Until next Saturday,