I hope you enjoyed our glimpse at creativity in January! The GLB will be switching gears in February, but before we do, I’m taking a moment to share the things I know to be true as I embark on my 33rd trip around the sun.
1. The adventure God planned for you, is different than the one you planned for yourself.
What’s that saying about if you want to make God laugh tell him your plans?
Yeah, that happened to me.
I never sought out to be a full time working mom, yet at the end of December I completed my first year as a full-time-working-sometimes-traveling mama. And for this I give myself a thousand props. (Heck, any mama of any sort gets a thousand props.) I’ve learned the daycare drop off hustle. I’ve got the time it takes me to get from daycare to Starbucks down to the minute so that I can pick up my coffee to-go order like its an art. I’ve even learned most of the daycare holidays. Although, next year, my goal is to remember they are off on MLK….Ok so there’s always room for improvement.
I’ve dealt with a baby with ear infections, whose teething, and the flu. I’ve endured pumping in the car with all its glory, and survived extreme sleep deprivation. All while managing patients in two entire states (and portions of four other states).
Additionally, I never thought I’d be a sales rep. After we moved to Louisiana, I stumbled upon this role. Originally, it was just a part time gig, however, over a few years it evolved to full time. I was so torn on leaving the clinic as an occupational therapist. But here is what I’ve learned: the goal of both a therapist and my current role is to improve someone’s ability to function, and I love doing that.
I don’t know what your life adventure looks like, but my advice is to walk through open doors, find joy in the little and the big, embrace where you are and dream of where you may go.
2. Navigating your thirties can feel like driving on a dirt road
Your thirties is when things start feeling rough like you’re driving on a really rough dirt road. Your back gets all messed up if you sleep wrong and likewise, people and relationships start to deteriorate.
It wasn’t long ago that a friend called me to tell me she was pregnant. Or at least I thought she was calling me to tell me she was pregnant. Instead she said, “I’m getting a divorce.”
My jaw hung open. And she isn’t the first of my close friends who have gotten a divorce. I have other friends who are struggling with depression and I myself have a close relationship that ended when I became pregnant.
I hate that things get rough and that we seem so ill equipped to thrive sometimes. But I do believe that despite the tragic things we witness, God gives many blessings too. Glimpses of hope and heaven are present when we look for them.
3. There is no actual “when I grow up”
Can someone quantify what “grown up” actually means?
Because I have found myself, recently, reading a book that has the lines “Chugga chugga, poo poo!” every night. Granted I am reading to my one year old, but y’all, I still find myself laughing.
Yesterday I spent part of my morning coloring this beautiful coloring sheet that my dear friend shared for free on THIS blog post.
So no, I don’t consider myself “grown up” yet, and I’m starting to think I never will. I’m at peace with this.
4. Age is just a number, nothing more, nothing less
I am embracing 33. For starters I love double digit ages, you only get one per decade so might as well enjoy it.
And second, I’m pretty sure if Iris Apfel can sign a modeling contract at 97 years old, I can rock 33. So bring it.
5. Do not put your fancy new phone in your back pocket and then go down a slide.
Who else has wrecked their phone in less than 24 hours of owning it…or is it just me?
6. Sharing your birthday with the Super Bowl is a total bummer
Oh us poor early February birthday-ers. We have been overshadowed time and again by this silly football game.
I will never forget years ago when CJ and I were still dating we went from one restaurant to another on my birthday only to find them closed due to the Super Bowl. Sweet CJ was so frustrated because he just wanted to treat me to dinner.
Quite frankly, I feel that the Super Bowl owes me and the Saints.
7. Perception is everything. Don’t get too caught up in Instagram.
Here is a quick story of how I became more wealthy without earning a dime.
I follow a girl on Instagram. She has almost 300K follows and is considered an “influencer.” She makes good money from what she does and lives what looks to be a luxurious life. As a fashion blogger, she is always wearing items and sporting purses that cost well over one of my paychecks. Oh and also, always traveling around the world.
I knew she was based out of the New Orleans area, but one day she put a picture of herself on her front porch. I did a double take, because, y’all, I knew this front porch. Not only is it in my neighborhood, it’s almost across the street from our house!
And since then, in all honesty, I’ve felt richer. Just knowing that her incredibly fancy Instagram life, is actually on par with mine. Perception is everything.
8. Indulge. Exercise. Indulge.
This is a good routine.
9. Love, love and more love.
I’m convinced Jesus came to earth to teach us how to love. 1 Peter 4:8 says, “above all else love one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” So, y’all, even though I fall so short of this. I believe this is the ultimate goal. To listen to the people God has put in our lives and to love them. Love, love and love.
10. Fashion is a carousel.
Yes on this lovely 33rd birthday I am rocking overalls. Because guess what? They’re back in style. So are jumpsuits (hadn’t worn since kindergarden) and even bell bottoms (hadn’t worn since middle school). So before you Marie Kondo your old trendy stuff, hang on, because in 10 – 30 years you’ll be buying it again!
Ok so there you have it. What I’ve learned as I embark on this 33rd year around the sun.
I cant leave out the fact that I’ve only gleaned these life truths and survived these years without the help and love of my friends and family. Cj is always willing to entertain my great (and out of the box ideas) and my parents have been especially helpful with Ray as I travel.
I’m sure I’ll think of something I left off the list tomorrow. But for today, I’m wrapping this post up! The rest of February the GLB is going to discuss ethical fashion. This topic was chosen with much intention on my birthday month because its a huge passion of mine. And we have a very special guest post coming at the end of the month. Its not Iris Apfel. I tried to get her, but she’s so busy modeling these days. Instead its a good friend of mine who is a perfect fit to speak on this topic, you’ll love her.
Until next week, Cheers!
Cindy Creel says
I love this blog. And even though you are exactly half my age, you are twice as wise! I love you soooo much!
brittany says
Aww thanks mom!!! I get it from you, I’m sure!!
Grandy says
Ah, 33. It’s a wonderful blog Brittany. I look forward to them.
I’ve been thinking about my 33rd time around the sun. We lived in Salt Lake City, had two kids, first and fourth graders. Full time school (kindergarten was half day then…talk about driving!) so I went back to college.
No Starbucks then. No internet. Worse, no cell phones and couldn’t afford to call my mom long distance. We were not allowed to call collect. We were not of the predominant faith and there were many times I longed for my mother’s voice.
But like you, I had a loving husband who noticed positive things, like the carpets had obviously been vacuumed. We made a good team, as do you and CJ
I LOVE your baby! I WANT that boy <3. He is edible. His grandmother was my first baby. I was about 2 1/2. I couldn’t say ‘Mary Beth’ so I said she was ‘my Be Be’ (pronounced Beh—not like a bee bee gun). I still call and refer to her as that. Now he is her Be Be. But I am his ‘grand aunt’, Grandy (what my boys call me. Kind of a combo of Grandma and Kathy). Grandy loves Ray.
Ah, my cup runners over.
brittany says
Aww glad you liked it! and how different your 33 was!! OMG. Thanks for reading Aunt Kathy 🙂 Hopefully Ray will come say hi soon!!
Grandy says
Oi! Spell check changed runneth to runners.
I DO know how to spell *&@#)*^$
Grandy says
Ok, she is HIS Be Be….
As you get older, you get harder on yourself for silly mistakes. Something to look forward to 😉