January 6, 2020… Today I am turning 47 years young. This year, I am making a list of birthday wishes instead of making New Year’s resolutions. I honestly don’t remember the last time I made any New Year’s resolutions, but we can all admit that we have birthday wishes and I have just a few, including one for you {my friends and anyone who is reading this post}.
Birthday Wish #1 – “Finding Balance” Goals
“Finding balance” is not about finding literal balance, but more of a figurative balance. I hope to find balance between my home life, my work life, and my blog life.
Home Life … My home life is splendid. I have a man I love, pets that I love, and a home to call my own. That being said, I wish to find more time to spend with my husband doing things we both enjoy, whether that’s handing him tools while he’s working on a Bronco, or eating out at a new restaurant, or going to a concert. And I wish to take another relaxing and wonderful vacation with my husband and our two dogs, Doc and Kate.
Photo taken during our Thanksgiving vacation in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Work Life … As much as I love my job, I do realize that I need to use my PTO instead of hoarding it. I enjoy my job so much that I don’t feel “burnt out” doing what I enjoy. But {and this is a big BUT}, I do realize that sometimes I need to step away and take a “mental health day” or two.
Blog Life … My blog life is important to me and I don’t want to lose sight of why I started it in January 2012. Over the years, I have made several “virtual friends” and it’s always exciting to meet them face-to-face. So my wish for my blog life would be to make real-life connections with some of the online bloggers I follow.
Although I connect with other bloggers via Instagram or Facebook, I don’t really connect with them IRL. My wish for my blog life is to reach out to some of those bloggers I really admire and possibly become friends with them outside of the blogosphere.
I’ve already been lucky to meet some inspiring and beautiful women, like Katie of Pearls and Twirls, CaNesha of Crowned CaNesha, and Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista. And I had a major fangirl moment when I introduced myself to Grace Atwood of The Stripe after she spoke at the BlogHer 19 conference in Brooklyn, NY.
Birthday Wish #2 – Travel Goals
My friend, Karis, travels the world like a boss, making memories, gaining once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and connecting with friends, family, and sometimes complete strangers. My travel goal is to start small and take day trips and plan overnight / weekend getaways to places within driving distance of my home.
One major travel goal probably won’t happen this year, but this goal starts with saving money. It’s a major vacation for me and Mike. I won’t spill the beans about it just yet, but let’s just say I’m making sure our passports are up-to-date!
Birthday Wish #3 – Blog Goals
As I said earlier, my blog is important to me, so this wish kind of goes hand-in-hand with the third part of my first wish. Last year, I went to several blog conferences {Nashville Blogger Bash, Blogger XChange XPO, and BlogHer 19}, and I was inspired by so many of the other bloggers in attendance who are hustling to make their blog a success.
But really, what is success for one blogger is not necessarily a success for another blogger. I didn’t start my blog thinking about how much money I could make from it or anything like that. I just wanted to write and starting this blog has helped me do that.
My goals include writing more personal content, attending some more conferences, and meeting some of the bloggers I follow online.
Birthday Wish #4 – My Wish For You
My birthday wish for you is that you find what truly makes you happy, whether that’s adopting a pet, finding love, reuniting with a long, lost family member, quitting your job to start your own company, taking that dream vacation, or going back to school. Whatever it is that makes you happy, just do it! Be happy!
My other birthday wish is that you will take the time to be kind to one another. As Brad Pitt said in his acceptance speech last night at the Golden Globes, “Hey, if you see an opportunity to be kind to someone tomorrow, take it. I think we all need it.”
Last, but not least…
My friend and co-worker, Sophia, is being induced today and hopefully she will give birth to her son, Liam, on my birthday! I know this is not her birthday gift to me, but I would be honored to share a birthday with her beautiful baby boy. But whenever little Liam is born, I’d like to say, “Happy birth day, sweet baby Liam! Your Auntie Nessa loves you!”
I also want to say that I love my mom and dad, and I want to thank them for doing what they did back in 1972 in order for me to be born on this day in 1973 😉
Yours Truly,
Vanessa