The August Issue: Another Year Around the Sun

Another year older, and another year wiser! I have been in my thirties for one year and it's crazy how quickly life can change. If my 15-year-old self could see me now, I know she (or me) would be proud of what I accomplished and have done with my life. I pursued higher education, travelled, successfully entered an industry that was beyond my wildest dreams, loved, cried, laughed, and felt every emotion in between (not in this order).

My dreams and vision for myself have changed drastically and I don't want the same things I wanted back then. I am proud of who I am and I am grateful for the journey I am on.

This newsletter will be a little different. As my birthday approached, I reflected on the lessons we learn throughout our lives, how our dreams change, and the small pearls of wisdom we collect across this journey we call LIFE.

What I am embracing more in my thirties is taking risks and shutting down that little voice of doubt in my head. You never know what's going to happen unless you go for it. I rather live with the mistake than wonder, "What if?"

I wouldn't be where I am today without my community, and I figured I would ask them for a special gift for my 31st birthday: I wanted to learn more about their own experiences and what they look forward to as they get older.

This is what they shared with me:

• "It’s not too late to start something new." - Manu

• "Always do what’s best for you. If you have a better job opportunity take it – you shouldn’t feel bad for moving forward and growing in your career." - Elisa

• "Honour yourself." - Martina

• "As I get older, I realize how important it is to just be true to who you are and what you believe in. I have a better understanding of who I am, and I look forward to this stage where I only surround myself with people that share my values and uplift me. The secret to true happiness is being sincere rather than compromising who you are to fit in." - Paula

• "Enjoy every aspect of this journey we call life with no regrets. Take in its many lessons and remember to smile, hydrate and wear SPF!" - Paola

• "It wasn’t until my late twenties that I started embracing my uniqueness and leaning into who I truly am. After the years of indecisiveness and insecurity that shaped my early twenties, the confidence and peace that I have found as I age makes me excited to grow old. But let’s not rush it. 😉" - Taylor

• "Don’t waste your time on people who don’t give you any of theirs. The people who want to spend time with you and support you, will. The ones who don’t will show you quickly they don’t care. When they do, believe them." - Justine

• "'The future is scary, but you cannot run back to the past because it's familiar.' - This quote helps me stay focused on my present goals, and not be deterred by who I was in the past, where I came from, or the things from my past that would make me feel like I can’t amount to be as great as I want to be. Instead, when I look at my past, I am grateful for how far I’ve come and hopeful for the future." - Bernice

• "Remember that you are forever evolving and are deserving of grace. We often run after what society expects of us rather than what we truly and divinely know is meant for us. Take the time to evaluate how you present yourself to the world and determine whether it’s a reflection of how you envision your life to be. Make the necessary adjustments to live to your fullest potential and know that most people your age are in the same position. ❤️" - Dobijoki

• "Nobody feels like an adult 100% of the time, no matter how old you get. We all just find ourselves in situations where we have to try our best to be ‘adult-like’! We're all winging it!" - Christin

• "Don’t worry about your timeline or trying to reach all of your milestones before a certain age. Let life happen naturally." - Nicole

• "You're never going to feel 100% ready to take the first step, but you can accomplish anything you dream of and more. Just take a leap of faith!" - Daniela

• "The next decade will be profound where you’ll start figuring things out and making major life changes. Embrace it. You’ll overcome hurdles and come to the end of the decade as a stronger, wiser person. Enjoy every moment." - Mona

• "In my late twenties, I learned to protect my space, set boundaries and say "No." I prioritize my self-worth and know who my true friends are. I learned that there are people that come into your life for a short time to teach you a lesson or be part of your life forever. I realized it's important to have quality friends over quantity." - Cristi

• "In your thirties, you are much more confident in who you are and what you stand for. Much less people pleasing!" - Rachel

• "Protect your peace and don't pay attention to what others think. It’s your life to live – nobody else’s! Live it intentionally, presently and passionately." - Jaydee

• "I’ve found that as I get older I've gained this beautiful sense of knowing who I am that’s allowed me to just be my gaatdamn self in all spaces." - Vero

• "Whatever you would like to do, do it now. There is no race against time, but there is a race against happiness. Always do you and do it now." - Vicky

• "Don’t expect the people you love to be like you: to give how you give, to love how you love or to show up as you do. You can still find beauty and admire other things about them. 💕" - Aliyah

• "What’s meant for you, won’t pass you by – let things flow. It’s ok to feel everything and be emotional, just remember to be kind to yourself. Become confident in both winning and failing, because without failing you won’t know what didn’t work. Your Saturn return is a rude awakening to help you evolve and grow. Receive it with open arms and be aware that it’s for your growth not because the universe hates you." - Angee

Thanks to everyone that participated and shared your thoughts, advice, and perspectives with me. I'm optimistic for the future and I can't wait to see what thirty-one has in store for me.

What lessons have you learned as you've gotten older?