Birthday Jumpsuit

Hello world! Today I turn 26.

To treat myself, I thrifted this little jumpsuit. (My birthday ‘suit, if you will.) It’s a versatile piece of clothing, as it can be dressed up or down for a range of seasons. Fitted and feminine on top, the pants are loose and playful on bottom. It’s from one of my fave brands, and 100% linen. Natural, durable, and sustainable. And I think it perfectly represents who I am and what I’m feeling at this stage in my life: aging but still very full of life, comfortable in my skin, confident in my identity but open to exploration. 😊

Aging is a beautiful thing. You find an inner peace built upon a foundation of self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-love. That foundation gets stronger every year. The identity crisis from your high school and college years has faded away and you learn to revel in your flaws, imperfections, and vulnerability. This is who I am, this is what I’m good at, this is what I believe in, and no one can tell me otherwise.

When I was younger I was obsessed with self-help books. There is so much advice in the world and I was a sponge, soaking in every guru’s “secrets” and promises of a transformed life. I used to journal about milestones I wanted to hit at certain ages in my journal, based on what other people recommended. But real change requires time, energy, effort, and commitment to myself. I realized that if I just stopped absorbing outside influences and listened to myself and I’d know exactly what I wanted to do.

In the past two years of my life I honestly just stopped following. I used to follow influencers, recipes, diets, workouts, teachers, people older than me, even the lives of fictional characters. When we’re young and impressionable we are taught to follow and evaluate our self-worth based on social expectations. How do I be the best in class evolves into How do I keep up with the Joneses? Then suddenly you hit 22 and you’re out on your own. There is nothing else to follow. You’re forced to think critically about your priorities and define what a life worth living is, in your own eyes. It’s easy to get distracted by society’s expectations, but ultimately you learn to allow yourself to forget the rat race and find your own truth — the things you like to do and your definition of happiness.

Life is meant to be enjoyed. If you’re always working all the time, what’s the point of living, you know? Sure you have to hustle a little to get started, but from there, enjoy the ride. Spend money, splurge on quality food, pay for your hobbies. Spend time, invest in relationships, and seek education and learning over entertainment. Play. Love. Do all the things that are unique you. Find your joy.