My Birthday Getaway

This birthday, I needed to be at peace and wrapped in spiritual warmth. I needed to fully enjoy this one, and I was going to make it happen—no question.

My last milestone birthday was marked by grief and tragedy. I lost a very dear and loved friend, one of the hardest losses I've endured. It's a bittersweet link between him and me that will forever be there. I wondered if I’d ever be able to experience a birthday without sadness. Now, though, he’s one of the first people I talk to, and I always feel his spirit and love around me.

I also learned, painfully, that someone who was physically there chose not to acknowledge me at all. I won’t dwell on that (I've watched karma come back around in real time)—it’s just one of the many layers of pain from that dreadful birthday year, a chapter I had to endure and overcome.

I am now ushering in a new era. This decade of birthdays will be marked by joy, pleasure, peace, groundedness, and love. And that absolutely includes my girls and the mountains.

There’s something so peaceful about waking up and immersing yourself in the beauty of the view—so grounding, it puts you in the best mood. Knowing my kids are close by, serenely sleeping, makes it even sweeter.

I treated myself to a little “me time” and did some shopping. My first stop was a crystal shop. I stepped away from crystals for a while, and I’ve missed it. I feel it’s time to return to the healing studies of crystals.

My oldest daughter truly cared for me and treated my birthday—and me—with so much love, making it feel special and priceless. She surprised me with a beautiful Ice Orchid and treated me to a delectable dinner.

Swimming, eating, and laughing with my girls is cathartic in ways I can’t fully describe. I am incredibly grateful.

This birthday, I reclaimed the peace and warmth I needed, surrounded by the love of my girls and the beauty of the mountains.