My Turn of the (Quarter) Century

On turning 25...

I have always loved birthdays. I have a knack for remembering them. I still remember birthdays of my friends from elementary school - literally, from Kindergarten - and I always wish people well when I see their date come up on the calendar. I come from a family of eight and we all somehow have our own birthday month! It’s a little something special to have a day that’s yours, you know what I mean?

A couple of weeks ago, I turned 25. My husband took me to a lovely Mexican restaurant a few towns over, baked me a homemade dessert, gave me a thoughtful gift, and took me to Keystone Creative Goods in Philadelphia. It was the nicest weekend ever!

Some pictures I took from our shopping trip!

No longer can I hide behind the reach that was 24 being my “early twenties”… I am officially, and now boldly, right in the middle of this decade. I’m also at the age where I always thought I’d have my first baby…more on that later lol. The twenties for me are halfway over, and now the second half begins.

As with every “new beginning” comes new goals. I thought a lot about what I realistically want to accomplish over this next year. (I’m trying to free myself from my typical pattern of listing every single thing I want to do with my life, trying to do it all at once, then getting overwhelmed and running out of steam within a month. Can anyone relate??).

So, what am I doing?

Being the extremely Type-A list lover that I am, I quickly came up with my numerically balanced list of goals that I hope to meet over the next 12 months.

1. Productivity - I will write 25 blog posts

2. Creativity - I will create 25 artworks (for FUN, in addition to my orders & events)

3. Rest - I will spend 25 days off of social media

It doesn't seem like a whole lot, but it's a bit of a tall order. If you think about it, this puts me at making one "thing" every week of this next year. On top of working full time, weddings, creating content, and all the other lovely aspects of life, it could potentially be a lot. HOWEVER, I don't usually shy away from a challenge.

Join me !!!

Artists and non-artists everywhere, I invite you to join this effort. If not in all of these goals, then at least in one. Journal instead of blogging, cook new meals instead of painting, make a prayer goal instead of spending 24 hours off your socials - however this framework works for you, make it fit! These goals together have the potential to provide the ideal balance of productivity, creativity, and rest. Think about how rewarding it will feel to craft those three realities of the human condition exactly to your tune.

This new stage of my life is one that I joyfully look forward to. Anything can happen. Immeasurable possibility lies ahead. Though..that is true of every day. Quit waiting for tomorrow and start living up to your own standard TODAY. You'll never have this day/week/month/year again, make it count! I'll certainly be treating 25 that way. :)

Until next time!

HB