I’m trying to think back to my 18th birthday. Was there a pinata? I hope so.
I’ve never been one to have my life planned out year by year. There was never the plan that I’d finish college (at all, let alone by a certain age), be engaged by 28, married by… what is it, 30? Pregnant or something or other by 32. No. My brain has never worked that way.
It’s not that I’m letting life happen to me, it’s just that the timeline plan was never much my forte. Suffice it to say, I don’t even have my blog posts for next week mapped out, so larger life events… let’s just take those as they come and hope they keeps coming.
Here we are at the ripe, old, healthy, hearty, grateful, trusting, and loving age of 35. And, amen.
I have less wrinkles that I thought I’d have. More importantly, I care less about wrinkles than I thought I would.
I work for myself. I work really hard, past fear and doubt into a place that feels sincere and resourceful.
I feel thankful, deeply thankful with tinges of annoyance and frustration because life is a balance of gratitude and confetti and fear and anxiety.
I think back to five years ago when I wrote a few of the things I had learned after 30 years in the world. I was living in Venice, in love with someone I’m no longer in love with, working the work, trying the try.
The difference between then and now is my commitment to making my own dreams come true. Pointing my finger at the things I want to do, the feeling that I want to cultivate in the world… and going after those things with confidence and compassion.
Because here we are for now and why the heck not?
For my 35th birthday I did something special for myself. I bought myself a pair of diamond earrings I’ve coveted for nearly a year. I’ve never owned a single diamond. This is my first and it feels special because this is something I did for myself.
Fancy. I know.
I got something for one of you too.
Luna Skye makes some of my very favorite jewelry and I’d like for one of you to have this gorgeous GORGEOUS 14kt gold and diamond free form moonstone necklace. A birthday stone from me to you!
To enter this giveaway, find Joy the Baker and Luna Skye on Instagram and follow us. Do this because we’re quality humans and you like what we have to share.
Next, leave a comment on this post giving me a bit of wisdom to carry with me in my 35th year. I appreciate you.
A winner will be randomly selected and comment entry deadlines are this Friday May 27th 2016 at 5pm central time. Giveaway open to residence far and wide.
Remember, it’s about making your own dreams come true- in big life moments, in cake form, in candy, in knowing that inside your heart is the light and confidence to do it, to find you way to shine bright for yourself and the world.
Come on, let’s!
xo Joy
Madeleine Smith
I have to say, these comments and words of wisdom give me such hope and inspiration. The world seems a terribly dark place these days, both on the macro level and in my own little life, but reading these has made me feel reassured.
My advice: Keep on living it up, traveling, treating yourself, and having unique experiences–you can’t take money with you!
Lisa Bryan
Happy Birthday! 35 was such a wonderful year for me and I’m sure it will be for you as well! I’m also not much of a jewelry person, but when I turned 35 I was accomplished in my career, life, etc (though still single) so I did something I don’t normally do – I totally splurged on a Tiffany’s diamond band. A way to commemorate that, heck, I’d made it this far! And nearly 5 years later, I still love that band. I’m all about splurging on “life events” with something special and tangible. Now, I’m about to turn 40 in just a few months….hmmm, I must think what special way to commemorate this event!! ;) x
searedandshameless
Your nails are fricken AMAZING. Happy Belated. You are one of my blogger heroes and you get more and more beautiful every year! (not trying to be creepy hahaha)
searedandshameless.com
Nichole
I keep coming back to this & thinking about it because it is such a beautiful take. Love love you & the anniversary of your birth. Here’s to many more.
Becs
I know I’m late on this and the giveaway is over, but I wanted to leave a comment for you nonetheless. I’ve been traveling and have just now had time to catch up with you, so happy belated birthday. My words of wisdom are plagiarized, as I feel much wisdom is. It is beautiful, albeit gruffly delivered. Larry Smith gave a TED Talk in 2011 (https://www.ted.com/talks/larry_smith_why_you_will_fail_to_have_a_great_career?language=en) which is very worth the 15 minutes. In it he says that “you will fail to have a great career unless you fail to have a great career.”
Those words follow me in everything I do. I try not to sweat what I perceive as a failure. Instead, I make sure that I learn something from it. I have failed in many things and will fail at many more. With each failure comes an opportunity for growth and learning and change and resilience. Don’t ever stop.
Meg Selby
Happy Birthday Joy! For 35, do not go begin something for the income, do it for outcome. Have a great year
Karen B
live like every day is the best day ever. I sometimes was so concerned about how I blew it yesterday and what can I do to make tomorrow better that I forgot that today was the very best day EVER!!!
Kelly
play hookie at least once a month and do something ridiculous, this is way more fun as an adult than it ever was when I was young!
Becca Dean
Thanks for this. My advice? Keep being a gift to us women only a few years younger who are trying to be normal about turning 30 in an anti-aging world! x
Sally Drutman
Happy birthday! Be gentle with yourself. You work so hard and create so many things. You deserve gentleness.
Best
Sally
Sara
I’m 35, too (actually only about 2 weeks older than you.) I’ve noticed lately that I really am happy most of the time – I no longer “sink in” to the problem areas in my life. A bad day at work just rolls off me now and by the time I go to sleep it feels like it’s been a good day. I think loving the people in my life more deeply and worrying less about everything else has helped. If I win, I’m giving the necklace to my best friend from college. She loves moonstone.
Elizabeth Finlay
Somehow I missed this entire post… As someone turning 31 in a few days I would say it may take work, change and rolling with the punches, and perseverance (or tears, whatever) but as long as you are semi-where you want to be you will be radiant. We can’t truly have it all, but that 75-90% range is pretty fantastic.