Today I turn 46. And on every birthday, I take time to acknowledge all that I am grateful for. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say birthdays bring up all sorts of emotions. These can range from love, happiness, joy, and gratitude to nostalgia, fear, anxiety or sadness. What an amazing day to get to experience so many emotions at once!

As I get older, I find it easier to look back and understand that all my struggles, all my “issues” of my past are who make me the woman I am today. Rather than push down memories of my eating disorder, my endless miscarriages, my divorce, my melanoma scare, I bring them up and begin to see them as gifts to myself. It is because of all of these challenges in my life that I am who I am.  A wave of gratitude floods over me. I feel the shame, the guilt, the fear…but I also feel the courage, the strength and the love. You see…in order to have the joy we must also celebrate the struggles!

Anyone who is going through something right now, trust the process. Lean into what you’re going through and remember that we grow by going through life, not around it.  Don’t do it alone…let someone in.

Thank you all for trusting in me and supporting me. Each one of you give me purpose and give me hope. We are all going through this life the best we can. We all need to lean on each other because life isn’t about the things in our lives. It’s the people in our lives that matter most.

And if you want to make today a day to reach out for help, I’m here for you. Let’s talk.