Yesterday was my 31st birthday!
Birthdays are pretty spectacular in my opinion. It not only marks the day you entered the world but also a day of celebrating the years you have lived up to this point and a send-off for another journey around the sun. I can be quite sentimental which is another reason why I find birthdays to be special. And don’t get me started on astrological birth charts. Whatever ritual you have become accustomed to on this day, make it personal, keep it fun, eat cake, be with your people and pop those corks!!
We should also honour our mothers or the women who birthed us on this special day. They were our home and sole provider/nurturer for nine long months. They underwent the most intense pain and stress a human body can feel! And besides oxytocin, the main ingredient that guided their labour was – love! Women truly have superhuman powers in this regard.
I loved being 30, full stop! It certainly wasn’t always sunshine and roses, I had my share of challenges and tears in the past 12 months. But, as I mentioned in my previous blog post upon turning 30 it felt as if the weight of my twenties fell off my shoulders and in its place came a greater sense of who I am. In the remaining months as a 29-year-old, I remember telling my mom I’m so exhausted by my twenties and so ready to turn 30! It was a fun and prosperous decade, no doubt but at that point, I was ready to begin a new chapter.
In the final countdown toward my 31st birthday, I share with you the highlights of the first year of my thirties and hope it may resonate with you as well.
Launched My Blog
I discovered an interest in writing around five years ago and began with a travel blog. It was a lot of fun to document my travels yet it didn’t satiate me for the long term. I wanted to write about topics with more substance that readers could relate to and in that contribute to a community of like-minded individuals. The other aim was to create meaningful work that I could place my name on and earn an income from down the road. Although this blog is still a growing seedling it gives me purpose and feeds a new passion. My ultimate wish is that it inspires and guides others in their life journey too!
Quit My Job (in Fast Fashion)
The decision to leave my secure job in an industry I had always dreamt of working in was not easy, taking me around one year to finally resign. But I haven’t looked back since. Fashion will always be my passion that runs through my veins, however, there is a shadow side I can no longer overlook. The textile industry is one of the most environmentally destructive industries around the globe! The prerequisite, should I return to working in this industry someday, is that both fashion and sustainability ethically are in symbiosis.
Multi-Generational Living
My mum and sister bought a house together! It felt like a full-circle moment on move-in day. Both women dreamt of having a large family home filled with children, pets and a garden to complete. And though through no linear route, they achieved their vision and for this, I am so grateful and happy for them.
Due to varying factors, we’re beginning to see an upward trend of families moving in together. We’re stronger together after all. Not only, does it benefit our finances but it benefits our familial relationships as well by strengthening them through all the beautiful and at times, tedious phases a home provides. I love the fact that my sister’s children get to grow up under the same roof as their Oma (Grandma). Of course, it isn’t always smooth sailing but the bond that is being created including what our various age groups are teaching one another is invaluable for life.
Personal Growth Work
The past three years have been quite pivotal in my personal development journey. This past year it felt like things have especially solidified. Call it my Saturn Return or simply maturing. From breaking self-sabotaging behaviours to understanding the meaning behind my inner child and what she needs, I have gone through some kind of spiritual awakening. My cycles of overthinking and doubting have calmed the f*ck down to the point where I finally understand and accept that what and who is meant for me will not pass me by. No matter what, I’ll always be the quirky, light-hearted, at times melodramatic, cork-popping Missy. She’s not going anywhere!
Shambhala
Never did I think to be the kind of person to go to Shambhala and I am SO happy I proved myself wrong. This music festival is one of the most magical places I have been to; the experience was nothing less than euphorically amazing. The fact that I included it in this blog post says a lot and this comes during a year where I went to the Oktoberfest seven times! The music, the stages, the light show, the people – it all conglomerated into a truly epic experience. And the best part is I shared it alongside my sister!!
Next Steps Forward
I’m not one to broadcast big life plans on this blog or social media in general. In my personal life, however, I continually drop clues about my next path forward. The notion to keep something to oneself until it comes to fruition speaks truth to me. My heart has been nudging me toward my destination for the last few years, my head however has been needing time to catch up. I needed time to divorce the vision I had been grasping onto since my early twenties. The vision was achieved to a degree, however upon that my priorities and preferred lifestyle began drastically shifting. No matter where I stand geographically I will always have two motherlands to call home and for this, I am forever beyond grateful. But there is a certain maple-leaf trail I can no longer overlook…
P.S. shout-out to my parents for creating me <3
Photo Credit: little me at my sister’s 8th Birthday party.
