Birthdays have always been my favorite. This year, on my 38th trip around the sun, it marked not just another year, but a profound personal growth journey that reshaped everything.

I know I’m supposed to say it’s the kids’ birthdays. Or our anniversary. Or Christmas morning when everyone’s got matching jammies and cinnamon rolls in the oven.

But nah. It’s mine.

Always has been.

Out of all 365 days in a year, this one’s mine. A full 24 hours to just be. To celebrate that I’m here—alive, feeling it all, soaking up the light and the grit and the peace of my own existence.

That’s probably why I love life so much. The shades of it. The depth. The colors of water and sky and every single damn tree that’s ever taken my breath away. I’ve always been captivated by nature’s palette—sunrises, sunsets, muddy rivers, Louisiana greens.

This year, on my 38th trip around the sun, I woke up beside the man who continues to make my life feel like a delicious dream. Kevin gets better with time, and so do I. Our love? A steady, soul‑deep bloom that just keeps unfolding.

And that morning? I took myself on a date.

The Riverfront: Finding Stillness & Reclaiming Self

After I scooped up my favorite iced coffee, XL because it’s my birthday and all… I wandered over to the riverfront.

I cross that bridge every day for work, always glancing over at those quiet benches along the dock. That day, I sat.

And I breathed.

The lilies floated past. Tugboats hummed. The morning buzzed with movement, but my body was still. Centered. Grateful.

I thought about all that had shifted in the last year. The tiny choices. The massive ones. The things I’d let go of and the parts of myself I’d reclaimed. It’s wild what a single year can hold.

People. Paths. Patterns.

Everything can change.

And somehow—it’s all beautiful.

Human Design: My Journey to Self-Forgiveness

A lot of this transformation came from stumbling into Human Design—not the woo‑woo, float‑away version, but my version. The Andrée translation.

I broke that system down, stripped it for parts, and built something that worked for me.

It helped me forgive myself.
Helped me see myself.
Helped me come home to who I’ve always been.

You’re gonna hear a lot more about this. But just know—I’m not here to sell you on anything. I’m just here to tell the truth, my truth.

Building a Grounded Life: Health, Work & Sanctuary

I threw away the vapes, quit cold turkey (was NOT easy, but I did it), went from drinking 5 days a week to once or twice a month, maybe. Started taking care of my body like I loved it, not hated it.

I leaned into a new kind of work—delivering for Spark. It’s physical, freeing, and deeply human. I meet people who just need a little help, and I get to be that help. There’s nothing more grounding than that.

And the blog?

This sacred space—The Root Sanctuary—was born.

My biggest YES of year 37.

Sacred Solitude: From Seclusion to Inner Sanctuary

I spent a lot of time alone this past year. Isolated, withdrawn, peeling back layers I didn’t know were still clinging to me.

But solitude is sacred when you know how to use it.

I traveled. Got my first passport. Watched my best friend marry her love in Mexico. Lit a fire in me that craves more—more adventure, more presence, more life.

And my kids?

Whew.

• Bailey turned 18. Graduated. Enrolled in college.
• Keegan started his P‑tech path.
• Chandler got accepted into LSMSA.

My babies are thriving.

And my marriage? Stronger. Softer. Sexier. Solid.

Everything is aligning—and not by accident.

By intention.

Celebrating 38: A Peaceful Birthday on the Bayou

That afternoon, I followed through on a plan I’d made days before. I packed up my beach supplies, lathered on sunscreen, grabbed snacks from Rouses, and made my way to Lake End Park—our little slice of natural beauty tucked right at the edge of Lake Palourde in Morgan City.

It’s not a “beach” by typical standards. But to me? It’s a hidden gem. Familiar. Rooted. Full of childhood memories and that kind of stillness your soul knows how to recognize. Just across the levee, the Atchafalaya spillway hums with its own wild rhythm—but here, it’s peace. It’s quiet. It’s home.

And I’ve got to say—Lake End Park has really been shaping up in recent years. You can tell new leadership is taking pride in the place. It’s clean. It’s cared for. It feels like someone is paying attention.

If you’re local or passing through, it’s absolutely worth the stop. Walking trails, boat slips, camper spots, cypress trees for days—and that sweet little beach that gave me the most peaceful birthday afternoon I could’ve asked for.

A Soulful Ending: Love, Laughter & Connection

That night, we feasted. Laughed. Played bingo. (Didn’t win a damn thing, but who cares?)

Kevin showed up with my favorite cupcakes—organic fruit topping and all. Because he listens. He knows what matters to me.

My sister surprised me and tagged along. We don’t get a lot of time, just the two of us, so it felt sacred.

I ended the night surrounded by the ones I love most.

And let me tell you—this birthday? This year?

Best one yet.

7 Life Lessons from 37: Embracing Your Power & Peace

1. You are the beginning and the end of everything.
   Accountability and grace. That’s the balance. No one is coming to save you — and also, you don’t have to save everyone. You get to choose how you move through this world. You get to rewrite the rules. But you also have to own it. All of it. Your peace. Your pain. Your power. It starts and ends with you.
2. If it costs you your peace, it’s too damn expensive.
   I don’t care how shiny it looks or how many people say it’s worth it. If it doesn’t sit right in your body or spirit, let it go. Peace is the real flex.
3. Your health is your foundation.
   And I don’t just mean diet or gym memberships. I mean sleep. Hydration. Breathing. Putting down the vapes and the wine glass when it starts to feel like a crutch. Taking care of you isn’t selfish. It’s sacred.
4. Some people don’t deserve access to your healing.
   You can forgive without rebuilding the bridge. You can love people and still keep them out of your inner circle. Boundaries are not walls — they’re doors you get to lock or open as needed.
5. Being alone doesn’t mean being lonely.
   Some of the best moments of my life have been spent in silence, in stillness, with no one but me. Learn to enjoy your own company. She’s wiser than you think.
6. Work doesn’t have to look like hustle.
   My version of success isn’t boardrooms or business cards. It’s flexibility. Freedom. Being able to say yes to my life and no to what drains me.
7. It’s never too late to begin.
   This blog? This voice? This life I’m building? I’ve wanted it for years. And now it’s happening — not because the timing was perfect, but because I stopped waiting for permission.
8. Love — real, soul‑deep love — gets better with time.
   If you’re growing together, not apart, it doesn’t fizzle. It deepens. And when someone truly sees you, celebrates you, listens to what matters to you? That’s the good stuff. Hold onto it.

Living the Dream: Embracing Presence & Togetherness

I don’t need to manifest some far‑off future.

I’m already living the dream.

Saturday, we’re hitting the farmers market. Maybe grabbing lunch. Just me and my man, doing life together.

Time. Togetherness.

That’s all I’ve ever really wanted.

And now?

I’ve got it.

If you’re in a season of change—or just need to feel seen—I hope this met you where you are. Share it with a friend, drop your thoughts in the comments, or subscribe to The Root Sanctuary newsletter below.

Here’s to growing, glowing, and staying grounded.