I can hardly believe it, but it feels so good to say — I’m 32!
Reflecting on this birthday – this was probably one of the best birthday weeks I’ve had in a while, and I loved every minute. To be so busy, and feel so appreciated and cared for was the greatest gift you just can’t wrap. It also feels like the start of what will be one of the best years of my life, and I’m really grateful for the rough years so that I can fully embrace the absolute magic of ones like this. Here’s the 32nd Birthday Edition of the Joy Report!
Got a great job offer that restores me to my previous, stable income.
I became a self-employed service provider almost by accident. Last fall, I got laid off from my corporate social-media position, had a reasonable severance, and felt like I was ready enough to go it alone.
I wasn’t, but I don’t regret trying. I learned a lot about myself as a person and as a business, and I feel no shame in wanting a little more stability by working full-time while I continue to build my clientele and hone the services I offer in my free time.
I’ve also learned that charging what I’m worth isn’t about inflating rates, it’s about creating something sustainable for both me and my clients.
Kicking off my birthday weekend with an incredible job offer was such a great gift from the universe!
My two best friends and sister got me amazing flowers for my birthday — just one of the many ways I felt incredibly seen and loved this week.
I love fresh flowers and live plants; it felt so good to have people get me something they’ve noticed that I enjoy so much. One of them is the biggest, most extravagant arrangement I’ve ever received — from Novapetal, a local florist I’ve been coveting for months!
Gifts are always nice, but a gift that shows how seen and loved you are is even better, even if it doesn’t live forever.
I needed a table for 9 for my birthday dinner — tight fit, full of love and laughter.
October in Arizona is busy for restaurants — my birthday always falls the week after Arizona Restaurant Week, and as fall and winter visitors arrive. This is the second year I’ve had to work pretty hard to find a table to fit my group, which is a wonderful of problem to have.
My best friend in San Diego sneakily called in a crazy-big seafood platter for the table since she couldn’t be there. (everyone loved it, it was great to have her presence at the table)
My best friend Gina surprised me and my table with a massive seafood platter — it was such a delicious treat, and it felt so good to have her presence with me at the table even though I won’t see her until next month.
Gina (and all of my friends) continue to show me how much people who love you also love showing up for you if you let them. I feel so much joy in knowing this is why it’s hard for a lackluster-effort kind of man to connect with me — I already have a village full of people who love me so loudly, I kind of can’t hear your weak half-formed interest.
My other best friend’s mom and mine finally met — we’ve been trying to do this for a year.
My best friend Braelyn’s mom has always felt like another version of my mom, and we’ve been dying to get them together for forever. We finally did it, and we can’t wait to do it again so they can really get to know each other. It’s been such a wonderful gift to find a neurospicy, business-minded, content-creator best friend, and her mom (and her entire family) is just as wonderful. I’m forever grateful I came to Thrive Coworking for Women and met the Smiths.
Had not one, not two, but THREE lovely birthday dinners out.
As someone who feels most loved through quality time, I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday weekend. I was exhausted by the end of it, but just like having to work to find a table to fit nine, what a beautiful problem to have.
Thank you to Buck and Rider in Gilbert for making room for us at a table meant for 8, and for providing incredible service throughout the night! Your team is amazing, and that was one of the best steaks I’ve had in a while.
Went to First Friday for the first time in a year, fell in love with expired film as a concept
I love film photography; one of my prized possessions is the negative and print of a picture of my dad from our standing Saturday-morning breakfast dates when I was in high school. Seeing this series of photos [Ryan Vaznis, Fog on 42nd Street (Midtown East, NYC); Empire State from the Garden (Midtown East, NYC); Fog at the UN (Midtown East, NYC)] sparked an interesting thought I’m still chewing on: when is something expired versus just different now?
Received a new handful of cards for me to save forever.
Fun fact about me: if you’ve ever given me a card, I probably still have it. The thought of throwing away something that someone has written a nice message in makes me sad, and I love my little card collection.
Found cute, comfortable, chic new wardrobe additions that fit who I am now, not who I was. (and got killer deals on all of it)
I’m lucky enough to still get birthday gifts from my family, and my dad hooked me up with some gift cards to Abercrombie to help me refresh my wardrobe for my new job. I went in and got a few pieces on sale, but also found a cool, upgraded new style I’m excited to explore.
If you’re reading this and you were part of my birthday week – thank you for being one of the best parts of my life!
