Hello, 24

It's the first birthday I woke up feeling a year older. Not age wise, but maturity wise. It's also the first time I've felt as though I'm ready to take on this next year full force without having anyone hold me back. I had the best birthday yet... Woke up and smashed my leg workout with my amazing mom, sprinted Knox mountain in the blazing sun, enjoyed a fabulous lunch with my parents at Quails Gate Winery (I shared my dessert... I promise), and got to spend time with my two best friends who light up my life every single day... They're also the closest thing I have to siblings. Forever grateful for my sistas <3

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Although birthdays may be overrated, and some people prefer to not even celebrate them anymore, I have come to the conclusion that it has to do with the fact that people are so caught in the moment that they actually choose to ignore smelling the roses and look at what's coming ahead for them. It's just a birthday, right? I don't think so. At least not this year. Given the fact that this is my last year before becoming a quarter of a century of age, I know in my heart that this is one of the best years to come. There is a lot to learn, and a lot to take in mentally, but the thing is if we don't let life do as it should for us, we aren't really getting anywhere.

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I knew in my heart when I woke up Sunday morning, the day of my birthday, that this year would be different. This time last year, I was still involved in a relationship that had many restrictions on what I could and could not do, I was essentially trapped in my life and didn't know how I was going to get out. I spent an entire year ridding myself from the heartache that relationship caused and building my self-esteem back up from literally nothing. It took an entire year. At this point in my life I am not ready to publicly discuss how hard it was to make something of myself in the last year, but the one positive I can say is that I am a much happier, healthier human being than I was 365 days ago. I am forever grateful for those who have been able to step into my life and help me build myself back up. So with all of that said, my advice to those who are feeling like they are trapped or stuck in a rut whether it be with another individual or even themselves, ask yourself this: What can you do differently to make yourself happy? Sometimes it's the smallest tweak to your lifestyle that makes all the difference. Let yourselves be free. I know I feel that way... 24 is going to be an epic year.

<3