Celebrating 40 Trips Around the Sun

I can’t believe it — today marks my 40th birthday. It seems like spending so many decades on this earth would prepare me for what it has in store, but I always find myself learning, growing, adapting, and realizing that I never really had it all figured out.

Now that 40 is here, I’m taking the time to reflect on what I’ve accomplished over these years and the people I’ve met along the way. Some have shaped my life in ways I will never forget, and others — well, I wish I could forget — but they helped shape me too, even if it wasn’t for a purpose I understood at the time.

Life is so quick. The days seem to fly by as I look at my son who turns 13 this year, and my youngest son not that far behind him. Celebrating 15 years of marriage to my husband this January, and almost 20 years together. Looking back on everything, my life is exactly how I always dreamed it would be — a mother, a wife, and surrounded by an incredible family and close friendships that enrich my life every single day.

Since I’ve reached the halfway point of my life, I can truly say I know who I am — fully. I no longer care what other people think of me. I speak my mind, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to stay. I’m done apologizing for my thoughts or my ideas.

I’ve even come to a place where I’m proud that someone once took the time to steal my creative ideas, my concepts, and basically everything from my Twitch journey — because it meant my work inspired them that deeply. They didn’t have a creative bone in their body, so they leached off of mine to build themselves up. And while it hurt for a long time, I can now say it’s something I’m proud of.

I realized that everything I’ve achieved happened because of me. I never embedded myself into anyone else’s community. I never traded “raid for raids.” I never pretended or played nice with bigger names just to gain their audience.

I built this on my own — and I am SO proud of that.

I’m living proof that when you believe in something with your whole heart and keep pushing forward — no matter the obstacles — anything is possible. Dreams don’t work unless you do, and persistence turns vision into reality.

If I can give you any piece of advice as a now “wise old woman,” I would say: be silly, love with your whole heart, don’t take life too seriously, and always laugh. Always. Make light of life. Don’t sweat the small stuff, because in the grand scheme of things, it’s all small stuff.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting me, for being my community, and for loving me every step of the way. The love you’ve shown me — as a person, for my story, and for my creations — means more than you’ll ever know.

Here’s to 40 million more.

xx,
plum

[Beautiful birthday poses from my dear friend Ash Legacies]