That's right, today is my birthday (!). I'm 29 years old. Almost 30 and I'm not even worried about it--just in awe at how quickly life passes by. It's funny, because over the past couple of years, I've had a bit of an issue with my age. Not that I felt too old, but quite the opposite--I felt younger than a lot of the people that I worked with, and thus, felt that if they found out my real age, they wouldn't take me seriously. I worried that my students would discount me as a yoga teacher if they found out that I was younger than they thought I was, I worried that the people I managed would feel uncomfortable being managed by someone who might be younger, less experienced than they were/are, I worried that I would lose blog readers if they found out that I had only been alive for 26, 27, or 28 years. ["What does she know? She hasn't been around long enough to have really lived or gained any wisdom!"] But, for some reason, over the past year or so--my 29th year in this body, this life--I've let go of those worries. I've found peace with my age, with where I am in my journey, with the fact that some people are older than I am, some people are younger than I am, and that we're all in this together, just living our lives. It's true that I many not have been around long enough to experience some of the things that my older students or friends may have experienced, but I think I'm okay with that. As a yoga teacher, a writer, an artist, I will always be a student. There will always be more to learn, more to incorporate, more to work with, and I hope that whether I'm 30 or 50 or 100, I can still be open to change, to growth, to acquiring new skills, to embracing a beginners mind. When I'm 45, I want to be eager to learn new skills or new ideas from a 25-year old. I want to embrace my age--no matter the number--and I want to be thankful for the years that I've been able to live and all that they have taught me. Usually, on my birthday, I reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year to come, but since it falls so close to New Years (not just this year, every year, ha!), I think I'm going to save that reflection for a later post this time around. Instead, today, I want to enjoy my first birthday living on the Cape. I want to revel in the fact that we get to pick up the BEST little birthday present ever on Sunday (*fingers crossed*), and I want to be present in this new place. There will be plenty of time for reflection over the next week or so, don't you worry ;) With that, I'm off to take my first yoga class in my 30th year. Thank you for all who have already wished me a happy day--it means the world ;) PS. Yes, you read that right--we're getting THE DOG!!!! Ahhhhhhhh! I posted a pic of her to Facebook yesterday, and was going to post a big pic of her here today, but Ben said that he didn't want me to jinx it--and that I should wait until we actually have her in our possession before I go too crazy--so that's what I've decided to do. I hope to be posting an introduction and lots of pics on Monday!
In the meantime, enjoy her precious, smiling little face in this pic :)
Rachelle
12/18/2013 09:28:08 pm
Happy Birthday Mary Catherine! You are missed in DC!!
Tara B.
12/18/2013 09:49:51 pm
Happy birthday! Can't wait to read and see more about the dog/your birthday present ;-)
Liz
12/18/2013 11:40:36 pm
Happy Birthday! Enjoy turning 30 and congratulations on the adorable dog! Happy birthday! I can totally relate to that feeling of being too young. I was the youngest person in my yoga teacher training and try not to talk about my age too much in relation to my photography business. I'm always afraid people won't take me seriously enough to photograph their wedding.
Nina
12/19/2013 03:14:35 am
Congrats dear Mary Catherine!
Mozelle Yawn
12/19/2013 03:47:02 am
Hope you have a wonderful birthday. There couldn't be a better birthday present than that sweet looking dog. As for getting older, my motto is "I'm going to LIVE until I die". There's not enough time not to be that way. Have a great 30th year!
Mary Catherine
12/19/2013 10:29:28 am
Thank you for all the sweet birthday comments and wishes, everyone! It was a fabulous day and I'm just counting down the seconds until we get our new family member... :) xoxo!!! Comments are closed.
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HELLO!I'm Mary Catherine, a Cape Cod-based yoga teacher, painter, designer, writer, mom, and list-maker extraordinaire. My goal is to inspire you to start living a more creative, simple, joyful, + purposeful life.
{Learn more + read my story}
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