A Time to be 29

It is my birthday eve, and I am here to tell you what I learned and accomplished in my 28th year of life.

For starters, I bought more sparkle shoes. It started off with rose gold shoes that I wore to dance class, and the girls asked why I didn’t have red glitter shoes. (Red is our studio color.) I did not have a good reason for not having red sparkle shoes, so I bought them. Then I was shopping on Black Friday and found the boots and Teva’s in the photo. I found the Crocs then, too but got those as a Christmas gift. I love having fun shoes! It is something that makes me happy, so I am going to continue to wear them and buy more as I find them.

I majorly changed my life by wrapping up the green apron life and becoming an office job lady. I still get to see people of all kinds and hear about their life stories, but I get do do so wearing more than jeans and a black t-shirt with black shoes. I updated my wardrobe both during summer and winter, and I am continuing to add pieces that fit the colors of the seasons which is new for me.

I am continuing to travel and explore God’s creation! My family took a trip to Vegas and the Grand Canyon which was amazing! I have plans to head to NYC with my sister in a couple of months, which I could not be more excited about!! I have decided to continue to live in an apartment that is on the cheaper side that suits my needs so I can take advantage of the opportunities to travel. Sure, a dishwasher and my own washer and dryer would be nice, but right now traveling is a higher priority than having those luxuries.

Along with the big life changes, I have noticed little ones, too.

Just recently I started to notice my dance choreography as moving pieces of art rather than just the steps pieced together. This year will be my 7th dance recital (I still count the year that Covid took away the recital because I had everything planned and ready to go that year.) I have been able to work with larger groups than I previously was working with, and get to explore new ideas and movement with all of the different ages that I teach. I love teaching the gals about things I have learned as an adult in dance that I wish I would have known at their age. I gross some of them out talking about science, but I hope they will think of me in their biology classes when they hear about things I taught them. – A few of them already have told me about this happening!

I have been able to process things better when I write them down, or think in a way that I would write them. I took a ‘Journaling for Grownups’ class about a month ago and learned some new journaling techniques. I started off the year wanting to journal once a day, but quickly realized that it isn’t realistic. I had grace with myself rather than being upset about needing to modify my goal. Now I journal a few times a week, and it is enough. Letting go of the pressure of writing everyday makes journaling more enjoyable.

I started to read before I go to sleep. I try to read about a book a month. I read exactly 12 books this year. I keep track in my ‘The Next Right Thing’ journal. I like to read before bed no matter if it is a whole chapter or just a few pages. I find it helps me to concentrate on something other than whatever comes to mind. It helps me slow my breathing and relax into my bed allowing my body to rest from the business and stress from the day.

I have been better at cooking at least one meal each week. I used to hate cooking. I was so afraid of spending money on the things to make a recipe and having it all go wrong/ get burnt that I was not having fun. I have learned what kinds of spices I like to cook with. I keep a little cheat sheet of easy things to make. I do not have the time or space to cook really big and fancy meals, but that is okay. I have a lot of kitchen gadgets that I bought or asked for as gifts to try to make cooking more fun that I try to use. I know that I do not have to be perfect and can change how I make things next time. I keep notes to keep track. I do not always follow a recipe, but I try to use somethings that I already have. I am less scared each time something turns out well. I try to listen to music or have a show on to take off some of the pressure of the empty sounds of me cooking in the kitchen.

I continue to get better at writing the more I write. I know that my blog posts are not near perfect, but I enjoy writing them. I hope that you enjoy reading them. I sometimes have brain awakening thoughts, and other times try to give you encouragement or let you know that you are not alone in the feelings that you have. I have had some writing projects at my job, which are exciting. I hope to have more as time allows for me to work on them.

Over all, it was a good year. I cried, laughed, worried, found joy and believed. I got to go to Lifest again, see a few musicals, and learn more about dance and my faith. I hope to continue to learn and challenge myself and those around me to seek more. The more you seek fun and happiness, the more opportunities will come your way. Life is never perfect, and will sometimes nock you down. It is up to you to look up, get up and keep on living the best life you are able to. Cheers my friends! Treat yourself to something nice tomorrow because you can.

-Em