35.

Hello and Happy Monday! 

Tomorrow will be my 35th birthday. I remember a friend in Munich who told me once on her 35th birthday, that this is the best year of a woman’s life. Others do not even want to be reminded that it is their birthday and just won’t make a big deal out of it. Do you celebrate your 29th birthday every year? For some, it is really scary to leave the 20s behind or getting closer to 40. Who the hell cares, I think. Looking back at the last five years, I have to say that those were the best years of my life so far. Full of important moments and love; they were wild and beautiful. I explored and leaned so much about myself; and I like what I am discovering. I also know that there is still so much more out there and I hope to have health and time to enjoy it all. 

I don’t mind getting older. I never felt that my youth is ending when I turned 30, or it is a big deal to turn 35. I talked to a friend not too long ago and she said she is sad and depressed when she thinks about turning 35 next month because she is not doing what she wants to do at age 35. She should be doing something different; a different job, kids, travel and whatnot and she already wasted so much time. I told her she shouldn’t dread her birthday but rather celebrate it and make the changes she needs and wants to do NOW. Learn from the mistakes and take the birthday as a new start, a new year. The only constant in the world is change. 

What else did I learn at 34 years-old? 

Quality over quantity and having connections with meaningful people – those who really matter. Loving myself 100%, self-realization, accepting myself, learning what I really want in life and going for it is my goal. I also realized in the last couple of years that I am the master of my own destiny. I make my day and I determine my future to a certain extend. I don’t blame others for mistakes or any unhappiness in my life – I am responsible for my own actions. I learned to take full responsibility for it and I stopped people-pleasing. It is also great to stay a kid at heart and go out and play in the dirt with my son. 

Looking back at all I have learned and experienced, I feel so lucky and I am in awe. I get to be Jean’s wife and Joel’s mom – and to me, this is everything. Love. Unconditionally. In order to succeed I need my team. Home team Henry and of course my family and friends. It is not easy to built this team and I had to move on from certain people who did not add light or love to my life; it is all part of the process and it is all okay. I wish them well and simply move on. My closest friends know a lot about me; those are the people I never have to second guess myself around – people who accept me the way I am and love me. I have no time for anything else – also not for useless family fights or arguments about nothing. I cultivate relationships that are worth it. Not everybody will be on my team and I learned that it is not important to fit every person into my life. Life is too short. You want love? BE love. You want light? BE light. 

I am excited what my “next year” will bring and for some reason I believe that it will be awesome. 34 was so good and it feels awesome to be me, in all of those silly, crazy, happy, adventurous ways. I love birthdays. All these possibilities in the future are endless and I am looking forward to what is on the horizon. 

So, 34, you were fantastic. Bring it on 35. I am ready for you!