Dear 26 Years Young Me

August 2019

Hey gwen!

Can you believe that you’re about to turn 27? Kind of crazy right? Like doesn’t it seem like just yesterday that you were starting high school, or graduating high school, or heading off to college, or the World Race? It still boggles my mind how quickly time moves sometimes.

Here I sit, in August of 2019 and you’ll read this again in August of 2020 (woah, did your heart just jump a bit reading that date? Yeah, mine too). Right now, you’re about to finish up your 25th year around the sun and I thought it would be worth it to start thinking and praying about what you want this next year to bring and be.

When you read this again, you’ll have finished your 26th lap around the sun. Are you ready for a little recap of your 25th year and what your prayers were for your 26th year?

25 has been an amazing year for you.

You published a book!

My best friend Cheyenne and I biking in the countryside of Ireland!

Cheyenne and I outside of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris!

Back at one of my favorite places, Trafalgar Square in London, England

You went back to England and got to see the UK and Europe!

You did the things! You did so much of what you wanted! You accomplished so much love, be proud! Stand with your head held high, treat yourself and toast to yourself about the amazingness that was this year. Like Megan Rapinoe says, “I deserve this!” All while holding her bottle of champagne and the World Cup Trophy. Carry that kind of energy and mentality into your 26th year, beloved.

Here’s my prayer…

For my 26th year, I want to walk in fearlessness.

I want to do some of the things I am scared to do. I want to take chances and learn that even when I fall down, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t supposed to be, it just means I get to try again. I’m not asking that you drastically change all that you do, love, like dye your hair purple (which you could totally rock if you decide to do it!) or move to the Netherlands; just try to do some of the things that scare you. Remember that beautiful feeling of the weak knees and stomach knots as you start to do something that scares you? That’s a good feeling love, that helps you grow. So let’s keep chasing those, ok?

I want to stop being so serious. Beloved, come on, you’re 26, not 96!

Laugh more, worry less.

Dance more, sit less.

Be adventurous!

Be spontaneous!

Be silly!

Because who is really going to care at the end of the day if you and your friends decide to play frisbee in the freezing cold rain? Absolutely no one.

I hope that by the time you read this, you’ve done some of this gwen; and even if you haven’t, I know you had a good reason as to why, but boy oh boy, I sure hope you do. Imagine the life you'll continue learn to live when you continue to step outside of your comfort zone.

I hope that you’ve learned some new skills over this next year. Maybe it’s that you can actually speak French semi-fluently now, instead of just the same four phrases. Maybe you can make mixed drinks, may you can take a dance class or two, maybe you can actually have a “zero-based” budget. Whatever those skills are, I hope that you learn them with an open heart and mind. They could help you learn more about yourself. They could lead to a new opportunity. They could be something that you love doing for the rest of your life.

I pray that you put yourself on the front burner this next year. I hope that, as big as your heart is for others and helping them, that you make more time for yourself. I hope that you take care of yourself in the little ways like treating yourself to a day of relaxation, to the big things like buying a new bed. Making yourself a priority isn’t being selfish gwen, it’s being smart and setting yourself up for success in the future.

Remember last summer when you had mono and a stress fracture in your ankle? Remember how much it sucked to have to rest all that time and how long it took to get better? Yea, we don’t want that ever again, do we? Good! So keep learning how to take care of yourself by resting before you run yourself down love.

I hope that you have a solid community wherever you are. I hope that your home base community is still a major part of your life and I hope that the community you are creating is one that breaths life. I want you to invest in others and grow together.

Chey and I in Dublin over St. Patty’s day!

Above all love, I hope that you continue to learn about yourself.

I can’t wait for you to read this as your 26th year is coming to a close and you are about to start the next one. I hope that this letter reminds you of many memories that were created over this last year and allows you a moment of reflection and happiness. I really hope that you remember how proud I am of you. You’re doing life, you are living it freely. I am so proud of you gwen and all that you do. Keep it up!

Happy Birthday!