Today I turn 31. It's a weird number, 31. Last year was a monumental, slightly traumatic birthday. Turning 30 was hard for me. While saying goodbye to my twenties I struggled with my place in this world and questioned if I was making the right choices in my life. Now I'm like, "Bring on my thirties!" It's so cliché, but thirties are absolutely better than twenties.

If you know me you know I'm not really into birthdays. It's just another day, but a day when I'm very aware of how old I am. Birthdays aren't my favorite, however I do enjoy the time I take to reflect upon the 365 days that have passed since my last birthday. Sadly I've had some birthdays where I was disappointed in the choices I had made in the last year, but reflection just allows for substantial growth. As I reflect upon my transition from 30 to 31 I am beyond delighted! Seriously, it has been a stellar year.

First, and foremost, I'm hands down healthier than I have ever been. Roll your eyes all you want, but working out has changed my life. I am incredibly grateful I found a gym and a fitness mentality that works for me. As I've mentioned many times before, I was never an athlete growing up. My short stint as a competitive cheerleader was the only taste I had of athletic training. It only scratched the surface. Although I'm currently not training for a specific sporting event, at 31 I feel like an athlete training for something big. I'm training to live a fit, happy, healthy life. Of course yoga is still my first love. As I age yoga has become an absolutely essential part of my life.

Along with working my butt off in the gym, this last year has pushed me to be a more disciplined, focused person. I finally feel like I'm on the right path when it comes to my career. Nothing has actually changed in my career as a yoga teacher, but I feel like I've finally found my voice and direction. I'm happy with the groove I've fallen into. I've pushed myself to take chances and stay true to who I am as a teacher. I've put myself out there by proposing workshops and even booking my first yoga retreat in March. This coming year is going to be a good one! I can feel it!

Of course I can't gloss over the fact that I had the life changing experience of completing my 300-Hour Teacher Training in San Francisco, CA with Jason Crandell. The discipline and focus I've cultivated in my teaching career most definitely stems from my training. I could go on and on about the experience, but I won't. It was a magical, enlightening experience that I will hold close to me for many years to come.

Through teacher training I met the most amazing human beings. It reminds me that in the last year I've felt more connected to the people who matter the most to me. Some have been in my life for decades, others just months. I'm learning to develop deeper relationships with those who matter most to me. It's been a rewarding process.

As challenging as it is to point out, these past twelve months haven't been rainbows and unicorns. At 31 I am ashamed and baffled by the state of US politics and social/racial relationships. How is it 2017 and I'm reading a story about Nazis and white supremacists? What decade are we in when black men are regularly profiled by authorities? Women are still fighting for the right to choose? Really?? Although I feel like I'm living in a terrible reality television show, I'm glad I'm 31 while all of this is going on. I'm grateful I have memories of previous leaders who didn't live by hatred and bigotry. I'm glad I'm at an age when I am aware of the differences I can make. In the past year, especially since November, even if I don't see eye to eye with another individual I'm working on being less defensive, listening, and reminding myself that we're all in this together.

Thanks for keeping it real, 30, but I'm excited to see what 31 has in store. I fully intend to make it the best year yet.