Turning Newer Every Day

For my birthday last week, Tish got me a card that really fit the bill — and my feeling on birthdays in general. It said …

How true is that? I’ve found that as I’ve gotten older, I’ve somehow become less jaded to birthdays. I don’t dread them; I look forward to them. I don’t lament another candle on my gluten-free birthday cake; I welcome it. Life is short and precious. And like one of my favorite people says, I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.

Not to mention that I get pretty spoiled on my birthday. This is one of the highlights … again, from Tish. Makes me smile every time I see it!

I also finally took the time to dive into my winter FabFitFun VIP Box. We’re an affiliate, and let me tell you: getting a box full of beauty goodies like this will really make you feel like it’s your birthday any day! I’m SUPER pumped about that light-up lip gloss, the Me Undies and the Giving Keys necklace, which benefits a really good cause.

Awesome goodies and gifts aside, I usually spread out the celebration for a few days and really take time to reflect back on the past year and look ahead to the next 365 days. This year, I scheduled a 90-minute couples massage for Ryan and myself, which was the ultimate treat in relaxation. And then we had a lovely little lunch out (more on that over on Fit Bottomed Eats!).

Then, I got hippity dippity. Dream board time! This is pretty much like looking into my soul, guys. There’s fitness, family, home, food, wine, inspiration, motivation, travel, love, friendship, beauty, strength, ocean, mountains, sheep … EVERYTHING near and dear to me.

And then, because I had a few extras that didn’t fit on the board (plus a few things I just couldn’t part with from my last board), I spruced up my half-work, half-play magnetic boards in my office. Over the course of the year, I’ll fill up the open spaces with random souvenirs from work trips, media mentions, inspirational stuff I see, etc. And, yes, I clearly have a thing for Paul Rudd (thank you again, Tish).

I ended the night of my birthday with an early bed time — and woke up to a fab workout (burpee pull-ups were involved!) and this. Year 33, I love you already.

Do you have any special birthday rituals? Take time to dream, too? Feel newer every day? —Jenn