Ha—after I put together this collage I realized how “shady” I’m being with sunglasses in every one…lol. Get it? Shady? No? Hmph.
Happy personal new year to me! I typically chuckle when people call birthdays personal new years, but as my birthday approached and I was deep in my thoughts about growth and learning, personal new year is SO fitting…lol.
I’m at a great place in life—not perfect of course but very happy with where I am. I’m slowly getting my gusto with diet and fitness, I’m happy with my career (which is great because I wasn’t always happy in my last one), my friends are awesome, my relationship with my family is great, and I’m just loving my 30s. I’ve said this every year since turning 30 but this is an awesome decade (so if you’re like 27-29 stop stressing…lol). You come into your own, have less and less to care about what people think, and you’ve learned from your mistakes.
Getting your life in order definitely takes time and no one’s going to have everything lined up exactly the way they want all the time, but I’m loving my progress and how far I’ve come.
Caption:
My homey (and FAB makeup artist) @lqrocksbeauty included me in a tag to do a super sweet #TBT (check hers out) where one shares what you would tell your younger self. It took me all day to think of something and when I did it made me tear up on the train…lol.
When I was a kid I would cry ALL the time—I was the quintessential sensitive Virgo kid who would get very upset anytime someone said something mean to me (and boy were there a lot of mean things said to me from kids at school and the neighborhood kids) and I also had a lot of moments where I didn’t feel pretty and would cry to my mom like everyday. But I was also a brilliant kid—I mean accelerated programs, honors classes, the whole nine but didn’t have a huge amount of friends and constantly felt like I didn’t “fit in.” A lot. I didn’t get “gully” until I was like 26…lol. But what I’d tell my younger self is it may hurt so much now, you may feel ugly or whatever but every single one of these moments is shaping you for the woman you will become. As you get older you’ll get stronger and have more self confidence and as time goes on you’ll have fewer effs to give about what people think :)
Just the other day I shared this post on social about advice I’d give my younger self (if it’s not showing view it here). It was great to read comments from so many other women who said they could relate. Sometimes in life especially when we’re younger, situations can feel really permanent and when we hurt we HURT (I mean we still hurt as adults but you know what I mean) but growing up means learning to grow from your experiences. Even your mistakes—they helped shape you to be the person you are now as well as the person you will be.
I’m looking forward to many more life experiences and what the future has to hold for me even the bumps along the way ;)
Happy Birthday Danielle! Sweet post! 30s are the best!
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday!!
Happy birthday Danielle! I wish you a year filled with all the great things you wish for yourself, then some :-) Boy, do I know what you mean, I feel like I wrote that note to my younger self. I was constantly bullied and I dealt with so much as a kid, it’s so good to not give a flying eff about people that don’t matter.
Omg happy birthday beautiful spirit! I can also definitely relate to your story. Kids can be so mean. But I wonder, where does it come from? I don’t have kids but I decided to join Big Brother Big Sister as a mentor because there’s so many experiences and lessons I can share. Even just reading your short description, I guarantee there’s some young girl or boy who would benefit from you. I know you are beyond busy, but I think it would be pretty amazing if you did like a beauty seminar with teenage girls. Heres why. You show that makeup isnt hiding flaws and that we are beautiful with or without it. You set your own path as far as your career after dealing with an unhappy situation. You are a positive influence and connect with people you don’t known and you show that its ok to be smart and not as popular. That the insults will eventually roll away into nothingness, that we as women are beautiful and worth it. Just a thought. I think you would be great at it! Happy birthday again!oh and btw I’m 29 and I’m soooo ready to be 30 lol. I learned the lessons.
Happy Birthday, Beauty!
Enjoy your day and Happy weekend of celebration.
Happy Birthday! Cheers to many more wonderful years.
I had no idea of your age! Honey, you dont look a day over 25 and i mean that!! Happy Birthday Danielle, glad to see the dirty 30’s are treating you well. Many more blessings to come!!
I know I’m late but HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!!! I hope you spent it well :)
Lol @ didn’t get “gully” til 26!!!
i’m *super* late, but happy birthday, lady! thank you for the time you put into the blog and sharing your world.
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awww thank you!!!!