It’s my birthday. I’m turning 31. This is no big deal, right? Age is just a number.
Well, 30 Me has a few things she’d like to say to 31 Me.
Dear 31,
The last few minutes of 30 here. Can we chat?
I had big expectations for 30. It was no big deal to hit a new decade… and yet, I had ideas. I thought, this would be it! That something! That BIG THING! It would happen this year.
Well, it didn’t.
I had heartache, I had loss, I had pain. I had joy and laughter and new friends.
As 30, I’ve laughed until I’ve cried. I’ve cried until I couldn’t breathe and I’ve screamed until there was nothing left.
Let’s just say it. 30 was a year which will never be forgotten.
So 31… here you come, you’re approaching.. I see you. With your new gray hairs and your wrinkles, your trials and tribulations, your memories, your laughter, your shocks, your joys.
You’re going to kick my ass, you’re going to make me cry, you’re going to bring me to my knees and cause me to scream to the skies with joy.
You’re going to be nothing like I’ve ever seen before.
But now it’s my turn. I have a few minutes before I, the 30 yr old Rachel am no longer in existence and I’m going to tell you now.. what I expect of you. And you, 31, you’re going to take note.
I expect you to be a better mother. A more patient mother, listen to them. Laugh more. Remember what it was to be nearly 3 and nearly 6. There are a multitude of firsts just beyond your grasp.. hold them dear and place them upon your heart because, 31, you’ll never see them again.
Love your husband more. Find a reason or excuse to kiss him daily, and I’m not talking a Hi Mr Lady or Tanis peck on the lips kiss. A REAL KISS. Bring him to his knees more often. Remind him and yourself why 11 years ago.. you couldn’t keep your hands off each other.
Take more pictures woman! BE in more pictures. I don’t care how much you hate yourself at this weight or than angle. This isn’t for you. Quite being so selfish and insecure. Your children need to know that you were there. They need to see your laughter as you sweep their hair out of their face. The awe in your eyes as you watch them blow out their candles… the tears on their first day of school. Get over yourself, girl.
Write more. It’s what you love, it’s your passion. Do it.
Quit being your own worst enemy.
Dear 31.. walk, laugh, love, enjoy, immerse yourself… do it all. There are no regrets in life except not trying.
Quit getting in your own way and live. Lose the weight. or don’t.
Write the cookbook. or don’t.
Jump out of a plane. or don’t.
Just do, just live.
Above all. Be there. experience. Remember. Make sure that your children, your family know that you lived, that you tried, that you were there and most of all, that you loved them.
If you do these things. Then 31, I will be proud of you.
Love,
what is left of 30
Also published on A Southern Fairytale
Happy Birthday! This is perfection.
My bday is in September (17th to be exact). Can I copy this and post it to myself?
K, thx.
Twitter Name: alotofnothing
Yes ma’am. You may. Just make sure you change the names ;-) xoxo thanks honey.
You made me cry… not for wanting to be 31 again, but for remembering how awesome it was then and how much life continues to amaze me all these years later. I love that you grasp life with both hands, Rachel. You are one of a kind and I am so thrilled that I know you.
Happy Birthday, Sweets!
Twitter Name: SugarJones
AWWW Sugah Bug. Thank you. Thank you so much. I’m thrilled and blessed to count you among my friends.
wow that is perfect!
Happy 31st!
Maybe sometimes we can go have dinner or something since I know you’re in Tx.. I’m saying this in a non-stalker way :)
Twitter Name: VampireSmitten
LOL ;-) Thanks ;-) I’m not backing away from you at all Miss Stalker … um… yah ;-) heee hee
31 looks good on ya! Love you, sweetie. It’s only going to get better
Twitter Name: Anissa Mayhew
MWAH. love you, too dear friend. Thank you.
Love this!
enjoy the adventure that is 31 and happy birthday to you.
Twitter Name: nicurnmama
Thanks! I’m looking forward to 31 and today has been a wonderful day!!!! Made even better by all my wonderful friends who’ve tweeted and commented and wished me happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! I’m with Angie…this is perfect.
There are many things on this list I’m gonna have to remember to tell 37 in January…
Happy Birthday my sweet friend.
I’d totally have given you a real kiss, one to bring you to your knees if I thought for one second you wouldn’t have abandoned your family and fallen in love with me and moved to Canada to be my other spouse.
I hope this year brings new joys, higher highs and more happiness than you ever expected.
You are a joy my friend. I’m so glad to have found you.
Twitter Name: Tanis Miller
Tanis.. Can I just print this up and put it on the fridge? Please?
Thank you so much for the laugh, the birthday wishes and for being you.
You are an awesome friend and I’m glad to have found you, too. xoxo
Great post! 31 year old you has been warned. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy Birthday, Rachel! What a beautiful post. Sounds like it will be your best year yet!
Twitter Name: LaurinEvans
Thank you sweetheart!!! Here’s hoping it’s a migraine free year, right? MWAH!
Wonderful. We should all give our future selves a good kick in the ass talk before they begin their term in office. Thanks for the reminder. I need to schedule sometime with 25 in the next month, because 24 is expecting great things.
LOL ;-) Get some time in and tell 25 just what you expect from her.
Happy 31st Birthday! I hope that whatever you do or DON’T do this year, it makes you very happy! :)
Thank you Miss Hilly ;-) I hope it does, too.
[...] This post was Twitted by LaurinEvans [...]
Happy Birthday!
This is a truly wonderful post!
xo
Thanks! It’s been a wonderful birthday and I’m trying to live up to my own advice!
Happy Birthday!! This is really inspiring. I love the part about being in more pictures for your kids.
That is the part that I need to concentrate on the most. Shedding my own insecurities and hang ups and experiencing it all.
I LOVE this.
I am 31 too. It’s a good age, I promise ;)
Twitter Name: alimartell
Thanks my Wonder Woman Soulmate ;-)
Happy Birthday!!!
Twitter Name: AmazingGreis
Happy birthday Rachel!
Twitter Name: Amy_Urquhart
MWAH!!! Thanks, honey.
Happy Birthday!
Having just turned 31 a few weeks ago, I LOVE this. Though, I think this is a letter we should all write to ourselves in some form every birthday.
I think that this is going to become my new tradition.
What an honest post. Once I red it, I went, she read my mind! It’s amazing how similar we all are, but yet, we don’t talk about it. Probably because we just don’t want to admit to ourselves that this is what we’re really thinking… Really enjoyed it!
aww thank you. Nothing makes me happier than to hear that something I’ve written has touched a chord in someone’s life.
Thank you for letting me know.