Birthday Reflections - My 38th year

looking back on the last year + my current perspective on life.

Hi friends-

I was hoping to get this post out last week to you before my birthday, but life was too busy so I finally had some time to sit down and reflect now. I love my birthday, not because I need the attention, but it is a day that forces me to reflect on what I am really grateful for and all that the last year has brought me. As I get older, these reflections have been full of some incredible highs and some really tough lows. So, a few years ago I started keeping a note in my phone of all the my life lessons from the past year. The first year I did this was especially transformative as we navigated a pretty devastating 2nd trimester pregnancy loss, I left my corporate job and took on Everyday Best Buy as a full time job. Since then, life continues to throw a lot at me, but from reflecting with friends, this is just the stage of life we are now at in our mid to late 30s and everyone simply has a lot going on. Life is going to continue to get more precious and full. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to navigate so many lessons, all are rooted in love, so here is what is top of mind as I turn 38.

Life lessons and things I live by:

1. First and foremost, have compassion for others and don’t ever lead with judgement. You never know what someone has on their plate or the full context of their decisions or actions.

2. Go for it! Lean into what your gut is telling you to do or not to do. I have really worked this muscle in the last few years. It all started with me taking a huge risk in this business and going after it full time. Have confidence in your own decisions, it’s ok to fail, because you will likely learn something in doing so that will benefit you. Don’t let other opinions guide your life decisions, invest in yourself first. I am innately a people pleaser, so I am guilty of sometimes overthinking things, but I have really let this go lately and let me tell you, it is so freeing.

3. Grief is rooted in love. If you are navigating grief, this loss and how you respond is not a sign of weakness, but a true reflection of a connection you highly valued. Grief looks different for everyone and I have learned up shows up unexpectedly. My personal grief is complicated because I am navigating my Mom being really sick after suffering from a stroke. While she is still with us, life is very hard for her and truthfully it’s very hard for all of us navigating this. Our focus is giving her the most full and comfortable life we possibly can, but I would be lying if I said I am really grieving and missing my Mom.

4. Another lesson I have learned as a result of #3 is take every opportunity you get to recognize someone who is in a caregiving role. Most of us are in a stage of life where we are caregivers ourselves for our young kids and man what a wild, joyful ride it is. But, many of my friends and likely you, are starting to find yourself having to step into a role of caring for aging parents. Watching your parents get old sucks, there is no other way to say it. I have so much admiration for my Dad now that the majority of his time is spent advocating for my Mom, it’s unconditional love unlike anything I have witnessed. My Mom also has a full time caregiver who is now part of our family, a true gift in our life.

5. Having good genuine friendships are one of the greatest gifts in life. Everything is better with good friends who are like family! Whether it is parenting, navigating a job, family drama or simply wanting to chat about the recent show you binged, it’s all better to do so with a close girlfriend. Friendships take effort and it’s easy to let life just pass by, but make the plans!! If no one is reaching out, be the one to reach out.

6. Don’t wait to live. There is no better time than now to experience what is life giving to you. And something that is “life giving” looks totally different for everyone. My friends and I have talked about this a lot as we all navigate watching our parents age, but it has really lit a fire under us to have fun and enjoy every day. No more ladder climbing mentality and sacrificing our true happiness for something we are trying to achieve for the future. Not every day is going to be glamorous, but if you can’t reflect on a week and feel like you carved out time to do things that bring YOU genuine happiness, I challenge you to do so. My husband and I are on the same page with this and I am so lucky to have a partner in crime who values working hard but playing harder.

7. If you have a positive thought about someone, TELL THEM. I often find myself admiring the way others parent, handle situations or simply show up and don’t ever gate keep those thoughts. There is nothing that turns my day around more than when I receive an unexpected compliment. It could be from a complete stranger but those moments are 100% energy changers. Someone recently in the grocery store parking lot literally tapped on my window and enthusiastically complimented my damn license plate lol and I had a dopamine hit all day haha.

8. Show up for your people! One of my biggest recent hacks is to write down absolutely everything in my phone. I am not perfect at it, but I am always trying to be better. If a friend tells you they have an important doctors appt, write it down in your phone and text them that morning checking in. This rings true for anything your people are going through in life = someone has to have a hard conversation at work, someone’s child is going through something, literally anything.

9. It’s normal to feel two extreme emotions at once. Life is hard AND joyful. I love my kids and husband beyond anything I could ever express AND they can drive me absolutely insane. I adore my dog and don’t wanna even think about the day she isn’t with us AND she is annoying as shit when she barks. Vacationing with my family is my number one favorite thing AND it’s hard a shit traveling with kids.

10. When all else fails, start dancing or go for a solo drive (preferably at dusk on a warm summer night). Dancing and blasting music brings me so much joy!

So cheers to this wild ride of life. It’s hard and full of so much love and joy!

xo Meggie

I would love to hear any lessons you all are living by, drop them in the comments below!