A 10 Minute Birthday Manifesto
Today is my birthday and I have 10 minutes before we hit the road and head north. Ten minutes to write a birthday manifesto to myself.
I lived my twenties in fear. Fear of fat. Fear of being swallowed up by depression. Fear of what others thought. Fear of being hurt by people. Fear of who I was. Fear of who I wasn’t. Fear of being abandoned by God.
If someone would have told me 15 years ago as a young adult that this is what my life would look like at 35 years of living, I wouldn’t have believed it. I would not have believed that I would be married for 13 years to my soulmate. I would not have believed I would have two children. I would not have believed I would love homeschooling my children. I would not have believed this gypsy dream would be my life.
Life continued on and with time it carved, like a river through a canyon, a shape of its own. With each passing year, I second guessed less and the box I put life in grew bigger and bigger.
Thirty came and went. It wasn’t so bad. It was great. Great to be alive even if it meant more cellulite.
Yes, there have still been disappointments, hurts, failures, broken dreams, and bad hair days. But I’m alive and my purpose has never felt clearer.
My purpose is to breathe with gratitude for the gifts I don’t deserve. My purpose is to kneel before and be as I am before my Creator. My purpose is to trust that it’s okay. The 5 minutes, 35 years, or whatever my days left may be are there to embrace with every cell of this body and soul of mine.
Life is amazing. Life is a gift. Life is worth living and living well. I haven’t always believed this.
To my younger self, I say thank you. Thank you for opening your heart to others and to God.
To my older self, I say I look forward to meeting you and the adventures we will have.
To my God, I have no words. You are everything. The beginning, the end, and every breath in between.
This year I want to laugh more, risk more, forgive more, wonder more, trust more, and love more.
I want to be a woman running fearlessly barefoot with my hair in the air and a soul full of the Spirit.
Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn
Keep up with my kettlebell workouts, real food recipes, and more in one of three ways! 1. Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox. 2. Subscribe to the RSS Feed or 3. “like” Girl Heroes on Facebook. Simple dimple!
Journey with our family on the road at New School Nomads as we travel fulltime in RV through the United States!
;
;
;
;
;
Pin It
This is my (almost) sane quest for insane health. Let's 
Happiest of birthdays to you, dear Jenn!!
I wish I’d realized it was this week, I would have brought you a birthday card, at least!
This is a lovely, moving post and I absolutely adore the photo. I *think* it may even have answered my dune-related question in my comment on your previous post… 😀 xoxo
Thank you Tamara! Yep, you guessed right! We shot it on the dunes. It was beautiful!
I’m glad you were able to! I can’t wait to see it. xox
Happy Birthday! You are awesome. This should be called Womanifesto or Hero-ifesto!
Your last sentence got me choked up…
Thank you Gina. You are so kind. Xo
Happy Birthday! You deserve lots of wonderfulness!
Thank you Jill. Xo
A post of hope, encouragement and wisdom. I read it with happy tears !!! Happy Birthday
Thanks mom. Love you!
Happy birthday you dear, sweet woman!! I am grateful for you!
Thank you Karen. I feel the same about you. Xo
I got all choked up reading this- you are a beautiful writer and a beautiful person. Happiest of birthdays to you!
Thank you Debs. I’m thankful for your friendship! Xo
What a beautiful birthday post. You are such a special person with so much talent to share.
Thank you Christine. Love you!
Happiest birthday wishes!! and LIFE is good. I’m so grateful for your presence and joy in our lives!
Thank you Jessie. The feeling is mutual!
Happy Birthday!!! I really hope we get a chance to meet up next week!!
Thank you! Me too! We are in the U.P. now. I’ll be in touch as we make our way over.