This is 40!?

Yesterday January 8th marked a significant milestone for me: my 40th birthday!? While the calendar flips for most on January 1st, my new year truly begins when I blow out the candles. This year, stepping into a new decade feels monumental—and it’s got me reflecting on how life has unfolded in ways I could never have predicted.

For starters, I recently accepted a full-time job offer—something I seriously thought was completely off the table. While I’m truly passionate to create a freedom-based lifestyle through working online… sometimes, bigger dreams require a shift in strategy. Right now, this opportunity provides the resources to reinvest in my online business and better fuel the health and happiness that matter most to our family.

Looking back at my 30s, I’m in awe of what we’ve navigated and accomplished. From buying our first home to becoming self-employed as a couple, we’ve lived on our own terms. But nothing could have prepared us for Todd’s cancer diagnosis, which completely reshaped our perspective on life. Turning to holistic healing modalities, we sold our home and most of our belongings to create a lifestyle centered around freedom, health, and wealth.

And now, as we enter this new chapter, then our daughter is turning 18 in June and eager to move halfway across the country to pursue her own dreams. It’s not been an easy thought process! As a parent, it’s hard to watch her take on the world before she’s fully ready, but I know these experiences will shape her in ways we can’t yet imagine. Just like our own journey, hers will be filled with unexpected twists that lead to incredible growth. If you have any advice as to how to prepare becoming empty nesters please share!

This journey has been really tough, but it taught me the power of resilience and adaptability. It’s why, as I turn 40, I’m doing my best not look back with regret (yes, I could go on forever on that) but instead I’m choosing to look forward with excitement. Every decision we’ve made, every challenge we’ve faced, has brought us closer to the life we’re building: one rooted in purpose, love, and financial security.

So, while it’s surreal to say, “I’m 40,” I’m embracing this new chapter wholeheartedly. There’s so much more to come for our story, its far from over and I know the best is still ahead of us. Here’s to fueling our dreams, prioritizing what matters, and always saying “yes” to the things that bring us closer to our future selves.