Birthday Reflections

Birthdays offer a meaningful opportunity to reflect on life’s journey. At 43, I am undeniably a different person than I was at 23 or even 33. I recall a time when I gave little thought to what things were made of or how materials like plastic could impact my health and well-being. In my younger years, I could hear the word “cancer” and hardly flinch, believing—naively—that it wouldn’t affect me because I was young and healthy.

Looking back, I now shake my head at that mindset, especially when others dismiss my concerns as overcautious or even conspiratorial. In our youth, we often fail to grasp the true dangers of the world—not necessarily out of recklessness, but because we don’t yet see the bigger picture. With time and experience, our perspective shifts, and we begin to understand just how much our choices matter.

The truth is, I am the kind of person who shares my knowledge and opinions openly, but I also grew up in a generation that valued everyone’s right to their own thoughts and perspectives. I respect your views just as I expect mine to be respected.

I was the one who wouldn’t listen—the strong-willed individual who needed to experience and learn every lesson firsthand. And honestly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Each challenge and mistake shaped me into the person I am today.

I have grown in so many ways. I deeply care about what I put in and on my body, and even more so about what I feed my children and grandchildren—knowing that my choices today will shape their futures. But my growth extends beyond just health and nutrition.

I’ve always been strong-willed, quick to say I didn’t care what others thought of me. Now, I can finally say that it’s genuinely true. I no longer measure my worth by outside opinions. If you struggle with anxiety and worry about how others perceive you, know that with time, self-love, and confidence, you’ll get there too.

The truth is, what makes us special is being authentically ourselves. I only value the opinions of those closest to me—the ones who truly know me. They’ve stood by my side through everything—the highs and lows, the victories and traumas, the moments of emotional turmoil, and the wild adventures that only made sense to me at the time. Their love and support are what matter most. I am authentically me and those who truly know me, love me for being just that, me.

I deeply value the opportunity to set an example for my children and grandchildren, raising them in a way that differs from how I was raised. One of the biggest blessings is the ability to homeschool. It allows my children to embrace their true, authentic selves without the pressures of conforming to trends, worrying about their appearance, or facing bullying. They are free to be 100% themselves, and that brings me so much joy.

This journey has been an incredible experience. My children still socialize through sports and work, but they don’t have to endure the challenges I witnessed in public school. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. I only wish I had been able to provide the same experience for my older daughter—I know it would have been invaluable for her and could have opened so many doors.

Gardening is my therapy. My grandmother taught me so much, and I am incredibly thankful for the knowledge she passed down. However, I also wish I hadn’t been so stubborn and had truly understood the importance of her lessons at the time. She had an extraordinary gift—she could grow anything.

My grandmother was an incredible woman. She survived WWII and was taken from her family at just 15 years old to work as a slave and garden laborer in Germany. Gardening was not just her passion—it was her survival. Her knowledge was unmatched; I have never met anyone else with her level of skill. She never had a plant fail, and she could store food all winter long without it going bad or molding.

I strive every day to be as skilled and self-sufficient a gardener as she was.

I’ve also come to realize that I will get there. I have the skills, the work ethic, and the determination to keep learning and improving. I embrace every challenge as an opportunity to grow, always willing to try new things and refine my abilities. One day, I will master everything I set my mind to, and when that time comes, I hope my children and grandchildren will be proud of all they have learned from me—just as I am proud of the wisdom passed down to me.