simple birthday wishes.

Today is my 31st birthday. To soften the inner dialogue that’s saying, OMG, how am I this age already?, I just did the math and I’ve officially spent 11,315 days on earth. Eleven thousand, three hundred, fifteen days alive, well, and growing. Incredible.

The meaning of my birthday has certainly evolved over the years. Growing up, it meant waking up to a pile of presents in my living room and ferociously ripping them open. As a teenager, I looked forward to a surprise party thrown by a best friend and the possibility of kissing my crush. In college, celebrating meant a cute new outfit, too many jello shots, and staying out until dawn. Getting older felt “cool” and a way to establish my independence.

These days, I still love to celebrate. I freaking love birthdays. But what I care most about is who I spend it with. It’s so rare to get my favorite people together in one place since they’re scattered all over the country. But I find I’m happiest when I get to be in the presence of their hugs, laughs, and stories. It’s a reminder to be grateful for exactly who and what I have surrounding me. I feel super loved and in love with my life in those moments and wish I could carry that feeling more fully into every day.

A few years ago, I decided to not only focus on the celebration of another year with others, but also alone in my own heart and mind. I’m a personal development junkie and incredibly introspective, so it was only natural that I consider with intent how I’d like to spend the year ahead. I like to think about who I want to be … in my relationships, at work, and in the presence of strangers. I like to think about what I want to accomplish, what I want to experience… because I’ve found that when I’m intentional about life it’s that much more fulfilling, beautiful, and surprising. A birthday is a great time to start fresh and begin a New Year, after all, it’s when we officially arrived on this planet.

After careful consideration, here are my intentions for the next 365 days.

1. Be more grateful. So often, I get caught up in what’s lacking in my life (naturally). I want to embody more gratitude for everyone and everything that sits before me instead of using up time worrying about what is missing.
2. Show my appreciation. I have an incredible boyfriend, sister, mother, father, and many wonderful friends, co-workers and acquaintances. I want them to feel my appreciation and love for them more fully.
3. Embrace uncertainty. Not knowing what the future holds is the most terrifying, exhilarating thing about life. Like many people, I struggle with trusting how things unfold, but my intention is to have faith and find ease in the process.

I chose these 3 ways of being because I believe “who I be”–the way I treat myself and others–is what will ultimately bring me more peace, ease and happiness in all that I do and truly, that’s the greatest gift I can give myself. I’m excited to enjoy this special day and experience the unfolding of another year ahead.

If I’ve inspired you to set your own birthday intentions, I’d love to hear what they are! Please share via the “leave a reply” section of this post.