MY BIRTHDAY = REFLECTION

Every year on my birthday I use that day to reflect on the year that has been and gone as well as look at what I want the next year ahead to look and feel like. I'm not one for waiting for the New Year to come around to do this, that has never felt right for me. Yet my birthday, that for me is the best day for reflection.

Last Thursday I turned 40! Ha seeing that number throws me sometimes, I really don't feel 40 at all, Sometimes I think when am I going to grow up, yet the older I get the more I think hopefully never...what does growing up even mean. The older I get, the more fun I want in my life, the more chilled I wish for things to be, the more space I want to create things that bring me joy, and the more experiences I want to enjoy.

This last year has been my biggest growth year to date, in self, in business and in a few other areas too. Especially in the last 9 months. I have made some big moves in my life, I've taken some chances at things that felt so damn wobbly at times, I've really allowed myself to tune into myself and ask myself some tough questions, I've spoken up, said no to things that didn't feel right, let go, gone backwards, let go again and again. I changed my environment, I'm now shifting in my business to do it the way that feels right for me, I've had some tough conversations with people, I've had some freaken awesome conversations with people. I've started to look after myself on another level internally and what I allow into my mind, body and soul...and boy have I been challenged, So many lessons, set backs, yet still plenty of wins.

I looked at my list of things I wanted to accomplish this past year, I ticked off many things, yet I failed on others, so I had to ask the question of whether I actually really want those things or not. Some things have been included in my list again for the next year ahead. I have new things on my list. There are so many things I want for the year ahead, and sometimes wanting more actually means removing things from my life...less is more so they say.

I've realised that I don't need anything else in my life, what I have right now is good. I have amazing beautiful friends who I love being around, I have a beautiful family who always show up, I have my tribe of children who are my drive, who are my why, who can make me feel crazy one moment then proud the next, who blow me away by their own selves and who they already know themselves as. I have a team of people who support me in my business who are just amazing. I have a home in the best place, I have a cat who is like a dog, who is so old, who has been leaving me shit little surprises around the house lately, but knows when I need a little company (I've never been a cat person until this cat turned up on our doorstep) I have the air that fills my lungs....(ha yeap always grateful for that) And I have myself. I can hold my own, I have my own back, I can support myself in many ways that years ago, I never thought I could. So I don't need anything else, but there are things I simply just want. Things that compliment my life, things that bring me joy, that I'm passionate about, that I want to give my time to, that I want to make time for.

I've learnt over the years that I'm a passionate person, so when I really want something, when I really believe in something, I'm very passionate about it. It can be both a curse and a blissing at times haha...but it is what it is, I am who I am.

The more space I make simply by letting go of what no longer works for me, the more space I create for the things I do want to include. It's just about having trust, belief and knowing that all will work out and come just as it's meant to.

Don't feel ya have to wait for the New Year, gosh even your birthday to come around, today is as good a time as any to let go, ask for, work towards what you want. Don't hold back on what you want, be open with what you want, speak freely of what you want, take action on what you want. What is meant for you will arrive.

The celebrations continue over the next week. This week is my last week in studio, this week I get to photograph a number of individual amazing women. And on Saturday, I get to raise a glass to the year/s that have been and the year/s that lay ahead.

Never forget to celebrate you, your life and all that you've accomplished - you too deserve to be celebrated.