It’s November 1st, which means it’s officially my birthday month! And although my birthday isn’t until the very end of the month, I have already decided that November deserves to be celebrated.

Now, do I have birthday plans? Absolutely not. Do I know what I’m doing on my actual birthday? Not a clue and honestly, I’m perfectly okay with that.

Ideally, I’d love to be somewhere with warmer weather, my feet in the sand, my body in the ocean, and a passport stamp from a country I haven’t explored yet. A beautiful resort, a little room service, a cocktail by the water, and absolutely no responsibilities sounds like the perfect way to welcome another year of life.

But sometimes life doesn’t come together quite the way we envision it.

After experiencing quite a bit of emotional disappointment this year, I’ve found myself in a place where I’m not particularly interested in coordinating plans around other people, waiting to see who’s available, or trying to figure out whether someone’s intentions are genuine.

So, this year, I’m taking a different approach.

I’m spending my birthday month celebrating myself, on my terms, and doing the things I enjoy. No waiting for someone to make reservations, no wondering whether someone is going to show up, and certainly no sitting around waiting for an invitation.

I’m starting November with a trip to a professional soccer game. Then, every weekend, I’m treating myself to a five-star restaurant because why not? I’ve also got a road trip planned to a city that has quickly become one of my favorite places.

And who knows? Maybe I’ll find myself booking that warm-weather getaway before the month is over. I’m certainly not opposed!

But beyond the restaurants, road trips, and birthday festivities, there’s something else I want to acknowledge this month: I have accomplished A LOT this year, and I refuse to let personal disappointments overshadow that.

Let’s take a moment to review the receipts!

This year, I landed my own column with my hometown newspaper, something I’m incredibly proud of as a journalist and storyteller.

I launched another book, Ladies, How Did We Get Here?, and celebrated with a sold-out book signing. If you’ve ever written a book, you know how special it is to see people show up, purchase your work, and connect with something you’ve created.

I auditioned for my first major film, went in for a leading role, and BOOKED IT! Yes, my first big film audition resulted in my first leading role. That’s certainly something worth celebrating.

I spoke on panels, continued building my professional network, landed my first commercial, and had the opportunity to interview national recording artists, including Case and J. Holiday.

And because apparently I didn’t have enough going on, I also started a new business venture in real estate investing.

Between journalism, publishing, entrepreneurship, entertainment, and everything in between, I’ve had some pretty incredible opportunities this year.

Have there been disappointments? Absolutely.

Have there been moments when I’ve questioned certain relationships, felt discouraged, or wished some things had turned out differently? Without a doubt.

But that’s the thing about life. Two things can be true at once. You can experience heartbreak and still have an amazing year. You can lose connections and gain opportunities. You can be disappointed in people while being incredibly proud of yourself.

I don’t want to get so caught up in what didn’t happen that I overlook everything that did.

As I approach another birthday, I’m becoming more intentional about how I spend my time, who I share my experiences with, and what I allow to take up emotional space in my life.

I still want the beautiful vacations, romantic dinners, genuine friendships, meaningful relationships, and all the experiences that make life exciting. I’m not giving up on any of that.

I’m just learning that I don’t have to put those things on hold while waiting for them to happen with someone else.

So, November, let’s have some fun!

I’m celebrating the accomplishments, embracing the lessons, making reservations, packing a weekend bag, ordering the dessert, and taking plenty of pictures.

And if I happen to find myself with my feet in some sand and my body in the ocean before my birthday, even better!

But until then, I’ll be right here enjoying the life I’m building.

Cheers to another year of life, another year of growth, and another year of giving myself reasons to celebrate. After all, it’s my birthday month, and I plan on acting accordingly!