Reflections on my Birthday

I was hesitant to post this because I felt I might be getting too personal for the blog. But, I realized that we all have ups and downs and nobody is perfect. So, I thought I would share my birthday reflections to give you more of a glimpse into my world and hopefully it can help someone else through their own self-reflections. 

Yesterday was my birthday… One more glorious year has gone by and it’s a great opportunity to pause for reflection. This past year has really been about “love.” I’ve paved my own path to get to a place where I do what I truly love; I give love and receive love from my family, friends and colleagues, and overall I aim to let love emanate through everything that I do, because it’s contagious and people can sense it!

This year I have grown more confident in who I am (because I also need to love myself!). I feel I have “come into my own” in my 30’s and have overcome several episodes of feeling “too young” in certain professional settings. After peer coaching sessions and conversations with close friends, I realized that a lot of these negative thoughts were just in my head, and most people were probably seeing different things in me and valuing my contributions. I feel ready to face new challenges as I take the next steps in my professional growth (get ready for more on that soon!).

A few months ago I started a gratitude journal on a very small notebook that fits in my purse. I bring it out when I am inspired or when I remember, and jot down quick notes. Although I don’t write regularly, it’s serves as a breath of fresh air as I look through what I’ve written in the past. Some of the things I am thankful for this year are:

• My husband – spending quality time with him, whether going to the Concert for Valor on the National Mall or staying in and watching Netflix. He is an amazing partner and one of my biggest supporters.
• Taking a walk for lunch and breathing fresh air, seeing beauty all around the neighborhood.
• Spring time and the wonderful flowers of all shapes colors and sizes that bloom all over DC.
• Opportunities to travel, whether to new or familiar places. It’s always a treat to change scenery!
• My family, which stands by me through thick and thin, and I know I can always count on them.

I am also thankful this year for the opportunity to coach 35 young leaders from Latin America and Spain as part Georgetown University’s Global Competitiveness Leadership Program. It was an honor to get to know such a passionate and determined group of millennials from the public, private and non-profit sectors, and to be a part of their journey. There are no words to describe the feeling when you have helped someone find their way toward achieving their dreams or are told you have changed their life (see one of these notes to the right). This has definitely been one of the highlights of my year.

So, my theme for this year has been “love”, and I know I have so much more to give! This blog is an outlet for me, a way to share more love and inspiration with the world. I hope it serves as a catalyst for you, helping you reach your full potential and motivating you to impact the world around you.

Thanks for being part of this adventure and I look forward to sharing more with you!