What Does Celebrating You Look Like?

This weekend, I turned the big 36.

Instead of a quiet birthday, we spent the weekend in the mountains watching the Cardboard Classic with the radio station WMMR, dancing to an 80’s cover band, and even going skiing for the first time in ten years.

On paper, it sounds like a packed schedule. And it was.

But what really stood out to me were the little moments that made the weekend special.

Birthday cake for breakfast at the hotel — complete with a sparkly candle.
The reminder that adventures mean more than gifts.
Receiving flowers — not just for me, but for all of my friends, too.
Being surrounded by people who are always willing to join in on my spontaneous adventures.
Homemade birthday gifts that celebrate my journey of becoming a runner.

These moments might seem small, but they’re the ones that stay with you long after the weekend is over.

As life gets busy, it’s easy to overlook the little things that are actually meant to celebrate you. We get caught up in responsibilities, stress, and racing thoughts, and we forget to pause and acknowledge the good happening around us.

But celebration doesn’t always have to be a big party or a grand gesture. Sometimes it’s simply recognizing that the life you’re living — the people around you, the memories you’re creating — is worth celebrating.