I abandoned this annual birthday tradition a few years ago, but I decided it was time to bring it back! Here are 37 things from my 37th year of life:
We bought a house! This was definitely the highlight and also the most stressful part of the year.
Being a cat parent is one of my favorite things. I think cats need better PR because before I had them I thought they were anti-social and assholes, but that’s not true (most of the time at least…). Our cats love to cuddle, be wherever we are, and are so sweet.
We did a few small trips not far from us, and took one big trip to Michigan to meet our new niece and Maryland for Joe’s cousin’s wedding.
At the beginning of last year I said 2025 would be slow and steady and it’s been one of the biggest roller coasters of a year 😂
I have a new niece! Eliana Joy joined the family in September.
I’ve had a lot of doctors appointments for different things this year and some experiences have been traumatic and I wish people would do better. It has given me opportunities to learn to advocate for myself, but also it sucks.
It was a full year as the Training Manager at the Financial Empowerment Network. I love my job and I’ve never worked somewhere with such a healthy work culture! I’ve worked with incredible people and have learned a lot.
I served on the board of directors for Wisdom Tree Collective - where I got my spiritual direction certificate. At the end of the year I officially became the Board Chair! This is a first for me and I’m a bit nervous, but I couldn’t ask for a better team to be working with on this.
Even though I left my full-time job teaching Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), I was still able to teach a few MHFA classes in the community and I love it.
Dr. Heather Cox Richardson is one of the reasons I’ve kept my sanity among the shit show of current events in the year. If you don’t read her daily newsletters or watch her videos, run, don’t walk. She is so good at calmly explaining what’s happening in our world and tying it into history too.
I’ve pretty consistently gone to kickboxing and it remains one of my favorite forms of movement! Punching and kicking a bag helps me actually feel very calm inside and turns my brain off.
I got to visit Nashville, which is always nice. I met Jenn’s new baby and went to a Belmont game to see Jessica coach.
I have eaten way too many Outshine coconut and pina colada popsicles. They’re so good!
Attended a lobby day in Olympia to advocate with the Poverty Action Network. It was the first time I’ve met with my state lawmakers in person and I learned a lot!
I read 95 books. A few of my favorites were: Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino, These Summer Storms, and Remarkable Bright Creatures. I read mostly thrillers and romantasy, but I made an effort to read more books out of my comfort zone!
I had a goal to play on a real tennis team and get USTA rated. I played on 2 teams and got to go to our sectionals tournament. I’ve also been taking lessons and would play tennis every day if I could!
There was some good TV! A few shows I enjoyed: Shrinking, really anything on Dropout, All Her Fault, and Eyes of Wakanda. And of course Below Deck Med when you just need some good mindless reality tv.
I had a goal this year to get good at one signature dish and dessert. So if you ever want to come over for beef and broccoli and apple crisp let me know!
Started a book club with my team at work. It’s my first time in a book club and I love it!
I crashed part of my parents Florida trip and hung out with them for a few days. I always love spending time with them and it was nice to see the sun in March!
Received my Trauma of Money certificate. It was an 18 week course and I learned so much! It was powerful to think about our money stories and why we make the decisions we do with money. I’m excited that I can integrate the trauma of money insights into my trauma-informed financial conversations workshop. (If you want to hear this workshop or are looking for financial coaching - let me know!)
We got goats! Well…for a week. We had to clear out lots of blackberry bushes and ivy so we hired some goats. They were very cute, but also did escape at one point causing a lot of stress and panic.
I attended a conference in Chicago for work and got to see my friends Anna and Katie! It’s always nice being back in the Midwest, seeing Lake Michigan and having time with forever friends.
Joe and I took a fun getaway weekend to a nice hotel for his bday. On this trip we found the best gluten free pizza I’ve ever had!
I re-started my business and re-branded as Roots & Renewal. I’m providing spiritual direction, Enneagram coaching, Mental Health First Aid, financial coaching and workshops on trauma-informed workplaces, trauma of money, and the Enneagram. Let me know if you or someone you know is interested in spiritual direction, coaching, or workshops! :)
Saw one of my favorite musicians, Joy Oladokun, and my favorite band, Johnnyswim in concert. Live music, especially when it’s artists I love, makes me so happy.
I took a fun trip to Yakima with my friend Mandy for a Black goddess author event! It was my first time attending an author event and it was really cool hearing straight from the authors about their books. They were also so nice and lovely to meet!
I played lots of games! I started playing DND which was fun, Joe and I play Forest Shuffle often which is my new favorite game. I also went to a Bunco party and I loved it.
Almost had a mental breakdown picking the paint color for my office. It was a journey finding the right color for my office. Six colors and multiple trips to the paint store later and I found something I love!
I spent lots of time with my family. My parents came to visit a few times, we saw my aunt, uncle and cousins on their way back from an Alaska cruise, we threw my parents a 70th birthday bash and went to Joe’s cousins wedding.
I learned a lot more about my ADHD and neurodivergence or as I like to call it, my neuro-spiciness! It’s so freeing to realize nothings wrong with me, and I let go of lots of guilt and shame. I’m learning to work with my brain and not mask as much. Timers, body doubling, movement, and medication have been lifesavers!
I didn’t listen to as many podcasts as I usually do. Mostly just listened to the Popcast and Pantsuit Politics.
I set up more consistent routines to talk with people regularly and see people more often which always makes me happy!
It was the first full year of our current administration (round two) and what a shit show…It’s been a year of trying to keep my sanity amidst the chaos and heartbreaking actions happening while also resisting and pushing back where I can. This could be ten thousand blog posts about this topic, but for the sake of brevity…operating from a place of oppression, hate and othering of anyone who’s different than you, and disregard for the law and democracy are not values that should be leading this country.
Medication for my mental health has been a game changer for me. As my husband likes to remind me, “If your brain can’t make the chemicals, store bought is fine!”
I found routines and tricks that work for me and my health. I have a new migraine protocol that helps manages my migraines. I got a Rebounder trampoline and jumping has become one of my favorite nervous system regulation tools.
Joe and I celebrated 1 year of marriage. 5 stars, would marry him again.
I started this year thinking it would be a year of calm and steadiness and I couldn’t have been more wrong! It was a roller coaster and a really hard year on various levels, but it made me so grateful for the people in my life. Because amidst all the hard, I never felt alone.
May year 38 be one filled with good surprises, time with loved ones, gluten free pizza, escape from reality books, resistance to injustice, lots of tennis, and opportunities to grow and love along the way!
