Thirty-Seven: A Love Letter to the Woman I Became
Dear 4-year-old me: Look at us. We made it to 37.
I wish you could see me now. I wish you could see the woman you became the woman who survived the things you were certain would break you, kept going through pain and uncertainty, and learned that choosing yourself was never something to apologize for.
You would be so fucking proud of me.
At 37, I am not perfect, but I am proud.
I am proud of the career I built helping others through some of the hardest moments of their lives. I am proud of the business I created with my wife. While I’m bragging, go check out Kataline Juice Co. across all social media platforms! I am proud of the home, family, friendships, and life I continue to build. I am proud of my sobriety. Y’all, seven years on November 19! We locked in! #SoberLife
I am proud of my growth and every difficult decision that brought me closer to the woman I wanted to become.
I have loved deeply, lost people, made mistakes, started over, and rebuilt myself more times than I can count. I have been misunderstood, underestimated, hurt, and disappointed. Yet somehow, I am still loving. Still hopeful. Still dreaming. Still showing up.
That is worth celebrating.
Thirty-seven is not just another birthday. It is a reminder that I made it. It is a celebration of every version of me who refused to give up. The scared girl. The angry girl. The grieving girl. The woman learning to heal. The woman finally realizing that she deserves the same love, patience, and grace she gives so freely to everyone else.
I am entering this chapter with gratitude for what I have, peace about what I had to leave behind, and excitement for everything still waiting for me.
Thank You for Making Me Feel So Loved
A special thank-you to Jessica and Jon, and to my amazing wife, Kat, for making today so magical. The love, thought, time, and effort you poured into celebrating me meant more than I could ever fully put into words. You made me feel seen, appreciated, celebrated, and incredibly loved.
Thank you to every person who called, texted, posted, checked in, or took a moment to wish me a happy birthday. Every message, conversation, and kind word added something special to my day. My heart is so full, and I am deeply grateful for everyone who reminded me just how loved I truly am.
To my 4-year-old self: We did not get here the way we imagined, but baby, we got here. We created a life filled with purpose, love, laughter, and possibilities. We became strong without losing our softness. We became everything we needed when we were younger.
And to the 37-year-old woman I am today: I appreciate you. I honor you. I forgive you. I celebrate you. You have worked so damn hard to become this version of yourself.
Happy 37th birthday to me.
I am proud of who I was, proud of who I am, and even more excited about who I am becoming.
This chapter belongs to me.
