As I sit down to write this blog post, painfully aware of the time I spent away not writing or reflecting… it’s been a minute.

Lately, I’ve been pretty introspective. I can’t help but think about how much life has changed in the last few decades. I’ve been through a lot – a professional career, watching my two children grow up, and experiencing many ups and downs along the way. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that being gentle with yourself and finding gratitude in the present moment is everything.

In my younger years, I was always striving for perfection. I felt like I had to have it all together, always be on top of things, and never make a mistake. But the truth is, that’s just not possible. We’re all human, and we’re all going to make mistakes and have vulnerabilities. It’s a natural part of life.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned to embrace my mistakes and vulnerabilities. I’ve come to accept that I’m not perfect and that’s okay. Instead of beating myself up over every little mistake, I choose to learn from them and move forward. It’s all about progress, not perfection.

One of the biggest changes I’ve experienced as I’ve gotten older is a shift in my priorities. I used to be so focused on my career and achieving success. While those things are still wildly important to me, they’re no longer sitting solo as my top priority. My family and my own well-being have joined the ranks.

Watching my children grow up has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. But it’s also been a reminder of how fast time goes by. It seems like just yesterday they were babies, and now one is a year away from college graduation and the other is nearing the back half of her high school career and it all just hits the overwhelm buttons some days. It’s bittersweet, but I’m so grateful for the time I have with them.

Through all of life’s changes, one thing that has remained constant is my hopefulness. Even in the toughest of times, I choose to maintain a positive outlook and believe that things will get better. It’s not always easy, but it’s what keeps me going.

As I continue to get older, I know there will be more challenges and changes to come. But I also know that I have the strength and resilience to face them. And most importantly, I know that being gentle with myself and finding gratitude in the present moment will continue to be everything.