[I wrote this for my 35th birthday, in 2022. It's been pretty much true ever since, so it stands as my annual in-public reflection.]

It’s been a trip. As a kid I felt like 35 was the impossible target. When I’m 35, this will make more sense. When I’m 35 I’ll have checked off these boxes and be (good enough) able to start living. Many boxes were checked, of course.

As an online person, I briefly considered a Twitter thread on the 35 lessons I’ve learned before throwing up a little in my mouth (from imposter syndrome, no doubt, we love a good Twitter thread). But, it didn’t feel honest either. Lessons I’ve learned? It implies such a permanence. That I’ve done that, checked it off. Moved on to the next thing.

But the lessons I’m learning, well, that might be a more interesting story.

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that life keeps bring you lessons, and much like a yoga or meditation practice, if we are growing and pushing our selves, we will keep bouncing against the edge. Finding the tension in our life is an invitation to explore, find stability, and release to build strength. It’s as true for our hamstrings as it is for our hearts. That last bit continues to be humbling.

Grateful for all of it. And I do have a little of that I have arrived energy.

It feels like I’m just getting started.

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