Another year around the sun, another year I’m ever-grateful to experience the privilege of growing older. At 33-years-old, fresh off the heels of another wonderful birthday, I can’t help but smile as I reflect on the person I’ve become over the last three decades plus — the big-hearted, Taylor Swift-loving, life’s-what-you-make-it kind of person who writes this post today. Here’s a little secret: I used to be scared of the number 30. But after turning 30, and now the big double-3, I’ve come to realize that life in my thirties is not as scary as I originally thought it would be — it’s actually exciting, revitalizing in so many ways. I’m no longer chasing the milestones society tells me to chase. I move at my own pace. I’m no longer comparing my life to those around me. I water my own grass. I don’t dwell on the fact that my life might look a little bit different than I originally planned. Instead, I appreciate the fact that I’m here today — alive and well — living my life IN and FOR every moment, big or small. Enjoying life, ready for what’s next, equal parts content and eager to see what lies ahead.
Read MoreIn December last year, Alex and I visited Carvers Creek State Park for the first time and absolutely loved it there. Located just outside of Spring Lake, North Carolina, Carvers Creek State Park is a quick 20 minute drive from our end of Fayetteville, even quicker if you live toward the Spring Lake side.
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