My 39th Year

Today is my 39th Birthday. I am entering into the last year of my thirties and reflecting back on this last year as so much has changed. I thought the prior year had brought about a lot of change with me leaving my overwhelming job and pushing the reset button. 

I realize now that the prior year was mostly recovery.  I was recovering from what years of working in a stressed out environment had done to me.  What was different about this year and I actually started to rebuild.  I could almost say that this year was a year of regrowth. So many new seeds were planted and so many things really started to happen.  And more and more, I started to find my way back to myself.  Not that I am my same self, I am an older, different version of myself but I find her around more than the empty self that I had when I gave my job all that I was.

Health is where I made the most noticeable difference.  As of this moment, I am 80 pounds lighter than I was at this time last year.  Never in my wildest imagination believe that I could pull off sticking to a diet for a year.  And granted, I have a couple of months to go but I have no doubt that this is the lifestyle for me and will be sticking it out.  My mental health also improved quite a bit. I realized that negativity had really taken hold of me and prevented me from enjoying things.  I have worked so hard this last year to focus on the positive and enjoy things for what they are, even if they aren't perfect.

Spiritually, my soul is a lot more at ease.  If you know me, you know I am not a religious person.  That doesn't mean that I don't think about life and my purpose on a daily if not hourly basis.  The mental clarity that I have gained around how I want to spend my time, what I want to do with my life, what kind of person I want to be, and how I want to live day to day has been so great.  I am stronger mentally than I have been in a long time. And I have a real sense of purpose.  I find myself letting go of things easier, allowing time to pass easier, and going with the flow instead of against it. I also see this area continuing to grow a lot as I become more and more in touch with myself.

Professionally, I got back into the line of work I wanted to be doing while working for someone else. In the same field, but the right job that aligned to my skillset allowing me to be more content with my work.  I am also working on side businesses which I have a passion for and will continue to grow over time.  I am reasonable with my expectations in myself and not overdoing it at work or at home. All in moderation.

My hobbies and interests have bubbled up and I am finally "into" things again.  I have always been interested in things but had trouble getting motivated to do them.  This blog was one for example, I wanted to write and share but just wasn't doing it... now I am.  I am also making jewelry, doing projects for my house, writing, planting flowers, reading tons of books, sipping tea, cooking, weaving a tapestry, going places, and once again just engaging in life.

I think of this last year as a journey that I hope never ends. I have returned to balance and have even surprised myself here and there. Slow As The South was always about getting to a place of slow living and enjoying the present and I am closer each and every day.