May 30th, 2013
Thoughts on Turning 28 & Taking a Trip
Last week rushed by so quickly I could barely keep up with all the exciting, amazing things that were happening. One of my oldest friends got married which swept even more of my old close friends back into town. I got to spend hours in the evening catching up, laughing, and making up for lost time.
Then after the days leading up to and away from the wedding was my birthday. I normally grab dinner with the family and spend the day off from work and this year was the same, including two favourites: a trip to The Underground Cafe (my favourite lunch spot in the universe!) and Cakeology Bakery (for a birthday cakette…or three). I ducked out to dinner with my family, and had a fabulous time that included a blog reader coming up and introducing herself to me. That was a first! It was overwhelming and unexpected, and made my birthday even better.
The next day, Jesse & I packed up and boarded a plane to explore Baltimore and Washington, DC for over a week.
It’s been surreal, fun and breathless. More than anything it reminded me of this embroidery piece I finished the day before I left. I’m feeling truly lucky now. And while they’re nice, it’s not because of the special occasions or the celebrations. It’s gratitude for the ordinary things. I’m looking forward to the routines of every day life, the rhythms of my relationship with Jesse, the cycles of working with design clients.
We usually think of being lucky as something that happens to us, but maybe it’s more about gratitude for the ordinary moments we get everyday.
I like that idea, because it means we all have lots of time ahead of us where we’ll get to be thankful for exactly what’s happening at that moment. And that if luck isn’t only something that happens to us, we can make any year as lucky as we like.
So in my first days of 28 I’m feeling lucky for all the ordinary pieces of life that add up to a really beautiful life for me. And that has me all kinds of excited for what this year could bring.
Happy Birthday! What a great way to start another year, not only with the celebrations, but such a great mindset!
These are truths I have always suspected myself, but I find it’s remembering to live them on a daily basis that is the most challenging but the most rewarding.
sounds like the most lovely kind of birthday celebration. hurray your birthday and hurray birthday travels!
Happy Birthday! Sounds like it was a special one! I love meeting with friends to catch up! xxx
Happy Birthday! Oh my gosh, I live in Baltimore. I’d love to hear what you did while you were here! Hope you had a blast. :-)
Happy Birthday!
I feel incredibly lucky around my boyfriend. He’s so crazy-ass sweet and caring, and shows it in entirely unexpected-but-genuine ways. Last week, I was suffering from crankiness and Lady Cramps (never a good combination). He went and found my hot water bottle and boiled water on the barbecue outside (our entire kitchen is being renovated at the moment, so no kettle or stove), filled it up and brought it to me. And even though on the outside it might seem like nothing special, it almost made me teary (in my hyper-emotional hormonal state!) that he was so thoughtful and sweet. That makes me feel lucky! X
Well, meeting you made me feel very lucky! Also having a new blog post from you to read. I’m so glad you had a wonderful birthday and trip…you deserve it.
Happy birthday! I feel lucky to be able to stay at home with Topher & Ellie – I’m glad I live in Canada, where we have such a long maternity leave! I love being able to experience all the new things Topher is learning WITH him instead of hearing about them from his babysitter, and I love watching Ellie as she’s figuring out life. Or her hands, which is her highlight from this week …
Happy birthday, pretty lady!
First of all, happy birthday! I think for me it’s those little moments of ordinary things that make me pause and feel truly reflective, grateful, and lucky.
Wahoo! I have to say, 28 looks good on you! As much as it sounds like a cliche, Ben makes me feel like the luckiest a lot of times – I laugh so much with him and we’re on the same page about everything – it really reaffirms how great of a choice he is as my partner for life!
I love those moments in life when you feel so blessed and lucky. I have had a really tough year so far, but I have been reminded that I am very lucky to have great family and friends in my life who are so supportive.
Enjoy your time in DC and Baltimore! I can’t wait to hear all about your time on the East Coast!