I’m starting my 39th year around the sun on Sunday. The last one in my 30s. Which feels unreal. I spent my 20s getting married and having babies, my 30s raising those babies, and apparently my 40s are when they’re going to start leaving the nest…probably. 

Anyway, in honor of turning 39 and on the edge of a new decade, here are a few things I’ve learned:

• You’re allowed to change your mind, your life, and your direction as many times as you need to.
• The odds of a grandparent dying on your birthday are astronomically low, and yet somehow I’ve lived it. God’s got jokes. Everyone can stay alive until Monday. I am not as emotionally stable as I was in 2019.
• Friendships matter more than milestones. Keep the ones who’ve seen you drunk-crying in your sister-in-law’s basement. Those are your people.
• You’ll never regret resting. Or therapy. Or good skincare. Or traveling. 
• Nothing about adulthood (or motherhood for that matter) ever really “slows down.” You just learn to walk through the chaos better. 
• Happiness requires intention. You have to actively choose to cultivate happiness in your life or you’ll never find it.
• Do yoga or something. It’s too slow for me, but go off.
• It’s better to be kind than nice. Which is great because I don’t think anyone has ever called me nice in my life. 
• I have zero tolerance for anything I no longer align with. People…nope I think that’s it. 
• Forgiveness is hard. Sometimes you do it for your heart, not because they deserve it.
• Some people are seasonal…and some people are the reason I drink.

Cheers to the last lap of my 30s. I’ll be celebrating with cake and captain. 

5 Moves for Social Media in 2026

Here’s what I’m actually paying attention to next year:

• Paid + organic = besties now. Reach is chaotic, so plan for a tiny monthly boost budget. Even $50 makes a difference.
• Authenticity > AI everything. Use AI to save time, not to erase your voice. (Pro tip: take whatever AI spits out, throw it into a Word doc or your Notes app, and rewrite it in your own words. AI is formal and doesn’t talk like we do and that human tone is what people connect with.)
• Video is the main character. Aim for 1–2 Reels/Shorts a week. People want to see you, not just read you.
• Start one “inner circle” space. Broadcast channel, Close Friends, private group, wherever your people actually want to talk.
• Don’t marry one platform. Pick 2–3 you’ll prioritize and lightly test one new one. Algorithms are messy; you don’t have to be.

And because I like you and I’m feeling generous here’s 30 ChatGPT prompts that will help you get sh*t done. Grab them here