40 at 40 ✨
"Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road." - Jack Kerouac
Forty feels like standing in the middle of a road. Far enough in to know the terrain, far enough out to know there's more walking ahead.
I wanted this milestone moment to capture what I've learned and come to value. Some things are simple, others I've wrestled with for years. Perhaps you’ll find something here that speaks to you. 🌸
Home can shift shapes — sometimes it's a place, sometimes a person, sometimes how you feel in your own skin.
Saying no without overexplaining is an act of respect for yourself.
The right question at the right time can open a door you didn't know was there.
Some friendships are built for a season, others for a lifetime. Both matter.
Travel light in luggage, grudges, and expectations.
You can begin again more times than you think.
Listening is a form of generosity.
It's worth protecting a slow morning, even if the rest of the week runs fast.
Clarity often comes after letting go, not before.
A moment shared with people you love will outlast most celebrations.
Feedback is a mirror. Some reflections you keep, others you set aside.
There's power in knowing when to stay, and equal power in knowing when to leave.
Joy can live in ordinary days if you make room for it.
Learning to be comfortable alone is worth the effort.
Good shoes are worth the investment.
Protect your energy as carefully as your time.
Keep something in your life that makes you a beginner again.
Small acts of kindness often matter more than grand gestures.
You can miss a place and still be ready to move on.
Read things that make you think differently, not just those with which you agree.
Tuscan days Beauty can be a source of strength, whether in art, nature, or the way you arrange your home.
Ambition doesn’t need apology.
Learning history teaches us that perspective is as important as progress.
You don't have to take every opportunity just because it's offered.
Seek out voices that show you the world differently.
Silence can be an answer.
Learn the difference between fear that protects you and fear that limits you.
Don't half-ass things that matter to you.
You can outgrow a dream and still honor what it gave you.
Generosity shows up more in how you give than what you give.
Wonder is a form of wisdom — keep space for it.
You don't have to be the loudest voice to be heard.
Choose your people carefully. They shape who you become.
The things you turn toward daily will shape you more than the things you chase occasionally.
It's okay to want more than one version of your life.
Change often begins long before you notice it.
People will judge you regardless. Make peace with it.
Move with purpose, not just because you're supposed to.
Life doesn't get simpler, but it can get clearer.
The point isn’t to have it all figured out, it’s to keep learning.
Marking 40 feels less about certainty and more about gratitude for the road so far, and curiosity for what’s still ahead. I’m simply glad to be here for it. ♥️
#5 light in luggage? I roll with a baggage train like the emporer himself! :)