I’ve never really understood why people get stressed about turning 29. It is possible that this is because, for some, turning 29 correlates to no longer being young since your 20s are almost over. But for me, turning 29 has felt like the beginning of a new era in my life, not the ending of it.

So, I decided that I would share some thoughts here as I reflect on what I have learned or been reminded of in the 29 days since I turned 29.

1. Find little things that bring you joy

There is something so simplistically beautiful in the small things of life. From a flower bravely growing through the cracks of pavement to a bird singing on a tree branch, there is so much in this world that can bring joy. I have a hard time looking at the state of the world and not focusing on how heartbreaking it can be. I do what I can to make a difference and on the way find simple, maybe silly, little things that bring me joy and that makes so much of a difference to me.

2. Pursue the things you are passionate about

I am a lover of what some people call “grandma hobbies”. Crocheting, reading, and a good Sudoku are just a few of the things I am passionate about doing. I also love playing and creating music as well as writing stories. All of these pursuits have felt been high on my priority list lately. Are these past times the most important things in the world? No. But do I feel like the truest version of myself when I do them? Absolutely, and that is worth something

3. People that love you will make an effort to be a part of your life

This one really hits home. There’s a saying that is attributed to Dr. Seuss that expresses this so well:

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind”

The truth that I have come to learn is that people who are true friends will not only share their struggles with you but will also listen and support you through your struggles. I am so thankful to have found a few wonderful people who epitomize this criteria in my life and I am sincerely grateful for each and every one of them.

4. Take the time to get to know yourself

For most of my life, I have been so focused on being whatever other people needed me to be. I would morph myself into the person that I thought other people wanted and wind up feeling completely disconnected from myself. On top of that, I struggled (and still do struggle) with anxiety. I’ve lost count of how many exhausting days impacted by panic attacks that either kept me up through the night or sabotaged my mind and body during the day. For so long, I didn’t want to be by myself because my most solitary times were in the throws of anxiety.

Over the past two years, I have started to be intentional about the time I have to myself. I go on walks in nature, take myself alone to restaurants, and explore new places on my own. And do you know what I discovered? I like being me

I know that may seem like the most obvious thing, but for so much of my life I didn’t like who I was. I felt like I was not enough on so many levels, but all of those thoughts were lies I told to myself. Which leads to the last and most important thing:

5. I am created exactly how God wanted me to be

There is no one else on earth that is exactly like me (and there are some people out there that are probably so relieved that is true). This anxiety-ridden, people-pleasing, “over-emotional”, youngest daughter is exactly who the Creator of the Universe planned for me to be. Do I fully understand why I have had to go through the struggles and heart breaks I have experienced in my life? Absolutely not. But I have learned that I don’t always have to understand something for it to be true. What I have experienced has grown me into the compassionate, driven, intentional teacher, daughter, and woman I am today.

I’m so thankful for the lessons I’ve learned over the past 29 years. I still have a lot to learn, but these past 29 days have shown me there is much joy in this journey.