Musings by Madison

Where are all my January birthday’s at?! Having a birthday soon after the holidays is kind of nice – it helps prolong some winter excitement after all the mistletoe and NYE celebrations have come to an end. Because let’s be honest, at this point we’re all just waiting for warmer weather to kick in!

The older you get, the more I feel like birthday celebrations become less of a “big deal” – especially if you’re a twin and you’re used to sharing a birthday like me haha! Nevertheless, it’s still nice to feel special. And on the day of my birthday, Justin, my fiancé did just that: he woke me up with breakfast, coffee, and some other surprises, like a spontaneous trip to Asheville, NC. We went to The Biltmore for the day (if you haven’t been, I highly recommend – especially during Christmastime!) and stayed the night at The Omni Grove Park Inn. We had such a lovely time, ate yummy food, and just relaxed.

I can’t begin to tell you how nice it was to slip away for the weekend for some R&R. The week before my birthday was….overwhelming, to say the least. Do you ever have a week where things just don’t quite line up like you planned and then little not-so-pleasant things kind of just get piled on top of that? Yeah… that was my week. So sometimes, all you need is a little reset and to remind yourself that it’ll work out and everything is going to be okay. 🙂

But this year, my birthday truly felt extra special. I’m not sure if it’s because I had all of you who wished me a happy birthday that made me feel so loved and celebrated or if it was because it was the first day I had in a while without any major hiccups or stressors, but it was certainly a good one.

So in the spirit of celebrating another trip around the sun and getting out of my “woe is me” funk, I wanted to share 24 reasons why I’m thankful today and maybe you can be too!

  1. I’m here – I’m alive and that’s the first thing I can count my blessings for!
  2. I’m healthy – the easiest thing to take for granted, but I never should.
  3. Coffee – the real MVP
  4. Challenges – being able to grow stronger, deal with disappointments, learn/change, etc.
  5. My friends & family – my biggest supporters and, sometimes, free therapists
  6. My fiancé – the most patient and loving man I know and can’t wait to marry!
  7. My relationship with my mom – a special connection I didn’t realize not all mothers & daughters have or get to have anymore. She’s my BFF!
  8. My relationship with my dad – the man I’ve admired and learned from my whole life. He embodies everything I aspire to be and more!
  9. My sisters and brother – my forever friends 
  10. I have a roof over my head
  11. I have a job
  12. Chick-Fil-A – for all those times I don’t know where to eat
  13. Social media and my blog – my creative outlets, my passion.
  14. Living in the South – where we can expect warmer weather soon…ish. Hopefully….
  15. My parent’s marriage – the example they’ve set for what my own marriage may look like
  16. I have a dog who only wants to love and be loved (even though he ate my brand new pair of shoes that one time……)
  17. The family (Justin’s family) that I’ll be officially gaining as my own this year
  18. Clothing & creative freedom – being able to express myself daily
  19. Travel & experiencing new places
  20. The online space – being able to do and learn so much at your fingertips
  21. Clarity – figuring out who you are and what you’re about
  22. Rest – something I often have a hard time doing, but need and enjoy 
  23. Women – the women who I can look up to, inspire me, and the women who spark change and innovation
  24. YOU – connecting/sharing with this amazing community of new friends

Honestly, this list was hard to stop at just 24! As I started typing this, I realized that the list could go on and on. 

Thank you guys for reading and for making my birthday feel so special! 

Here’s to 24 – a year full of reasons to be thankful!!!

About Madison

I'm Madison - a northern gal planting roots down south. Musings by Madison is your guide to classic style, beauty, home decor & more. Rooted in passion for encouraging others to curate a closet, home, and life they’re proud of and inspired by each day.
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