This year, the last of my thirties, I promise a few things to myself:

-      I promise to lead by example.  Each year my children’s’ eyes become wider and more skilled at interpretation, for every year that I age, they do too.

-      I promise to always let kindness win. I can be right, or I can be kind; the older I get, the more I’d rather be the latter.

-      I promise to hold tight the things and people that matter and let go of those that no longer fit. I won’t grieve the pieces that no longer fit.  I promise to let go easier.

-      I promise my children that i will sit still with them for longer; I’m learning it takes a moment or two of stillness for them to remember the things they’d saved to tell me.

-      The same goes for you, my love, I promise to sit still for longer with you: I will marvel at the night sky, sip our coffee on the deck, and snuggle a moment or two longer before making you choose the nights movie selection.

-      I’m a priority too.  I promise to carve out time for me; I’ll sit down at my wheel and play in the clay until something beautiful forms under my hands.  In these moments, I’ll remove the endless lists from my mind and focus solely on the spinning beneath my hands. 

-      I will practice gratitude; I know how very blessed I am, and I promise to never let that get muddled with the mundane stresses of the everyday.

-      I have 365 days left of this chapter – I promise to make them count. I’ll remain wild, crazy, open, free, ambitious, and kind.

These are my promises for this year, the last of my thirties.

***Thank you for all of the birthday love***