On a Personal Note—Let’s Try This Again

After a rough and unexpected start to the year… spring has sprung, DC is in bloom, I’ve turned 33, and am feeling so revitalized moving into April.

If you haven’t been following along on Instagram, you may have missed that early February was met with a traumatic incident involving my dog, Millie. Long story short, I had woken up one day to her slowly losing mobility in her back legs and within hours going completely lame. After a tortuous weekend of the unknown, we found that she had a slipped disk and needed emergency spine surgery. It was a very emotional and mentally exhausting month trying to get her to stand and walk again after being paralyzed, but with lots of work, we had turned things around by March. Dogs really are such a huge part of our lives and I cannot express how horribly this affected me, but I’m so happy to see how much progress she’s made and how happy she is just doing dog things again! Though it’s still a long road to being normal again—if that’s even in the cards for her.

This month, I’ve really focused on getting myself back on track. I started seeing friends again and going out… doing little, simple things for myself, like buying flowers, going on walks, visiting my favorite places, reuniting with family, and starting a new project at work. It’s crazy how life can come at you so hard and really throw everything off track. I basically dropped it all in that moment—it’s been so hard to focus on anything else (hence my silence over here and on social—though I really enjoyed being offline).

With March came spring in DC and my birthday… and I’m feeling like a new woman! I’ve been so inspired by the world around me, and after such a dormant two months, my creative brain is bursting at the seams. Every spring I feel like I come alive. And if my 33rd birthday week is any indication of how the rest of the year will go, it’s gonna be good. I had a really great annual career discussion and received an amazing (and unexpectedly large) raise. Millie was able to go on her first real walk since before surgery. I’m onto a fresh new project at work that I’m really excited about. I finished booking and planning a trip to England this summer to celebrate a best friend’s wedding. Solidified plans with my mom to spend some time at my favorite place by the sea in April. I’m just feeling good! And celebrating all the little and big wins that I know I deserve.

And with the warmer weather showing its face here and there, I’m excited about spring plans in the city. DC is so gorgeous this time of year, lit up in pink cherry blossoms and tulips and people out and about. I’m ready for dining al fresco, long neighborhood walks, green trees, sunshine, entertaining and making plans, rooftop hangs. I’m excited about new recipes and planting little herbs for the window. I’m ready for easy, breezy clothes, a fresh palette, and slides. Perhaps an apartment update here and there.

So, cheers to a new season and a new age! I’m so ready to relish in it and get back to bringing myself joy.