Today I am 29! Hello, last year of my 20s!
I often feel big mushy gushy emotions about my life - so grateful for the gifts that the Lord has given to me in the people and places He surrounds me with. Today, I feel EXTRA mushy gushy.
I am thinking deeply on one of my favorite quotes from my spiritual grandfather / famous author Henri Nouwen-
“Gratitude goes beyond the ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift.
In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline.
The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.”
That’s exactly how I feel and that’s the life I want to cultivate, in year 29 and always.
I know some people may dread the impending 30th birthday, clinging to their 20s for dear life. I feel strangely excited, for this last year and all of the future.
When you work hard to cultivate a life you like, even in the hard down and out tough seasons, as you grow up, you become more like yourself. Every year I feel myself settling more into who I am and what my life holds.
My 20s so far have been a mixed bag - epic and fun, heartbreaking and exhausting. I think that might be what your 20s are for, and I’m thankful for all of it, for shaping my life as I know it.
Growing up, I always wanted to be a summer birthday kid. My heart has always belonged to summer. Now that I live in Florida, sometimes I get lucky and the weather makes it feel like a summer day. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous today and here is my plan if it is: a long walk, coffee shop, book shop, beach day, and pasta dinner with people I love.
There are so many things I want to do before I turn 30 - working on a bucket list as we speak. Send any suggestions my way if you have done the same!
Anyway, just wanted to pop in to say hello, and that I am thankful for you if you are here. Writing has been a major pillar of my life in both seasons where I was writing almost nothing and when I was writing constantly. Many of you have been along for the ride for 10 years now!
Know of my appreciation and gratitude for you all.
XO
Emma
what a great post, happy belated birthday <3
Happy belated !!! Sending love for this chapter 🥰