Happy Advent calendar season!
Do you Advent? This is my first time! I splurged on a premium calendar from L’Occitane. I figured, why not end 2020 with 24 days of luxe skincare products?
What would be your dream Advent? If you could design a calendar, no restrictions, what would you want to reveal?
24 plane tickets to random destinations around the world?
24 luxury candles?
24 key fobs to new cars?
24 Hermés handbags?
Be sure to let me know in the comments below!
Happy Birthday to Me!
So, it’s my birthday.
38!
It’s a day of pampering, Chinese takeout, and movies. Basically, a normal day.
Ha, kidding.
I like to cook my own meals.
I was planning to be in NYC for my birthday this year. I’ve never been. But since C*vid has the Canada/US border closed to non-essential travel, I figure celebrating my 40th in NYC will be something to look forward to.
This one time, in Vegas….
On my 35th birthday, I woke up in Vegas.
A week-long solo trip to celebrate.
I flew out from Calgary International Airport, which meant I went through pre-clearance at US customs before boarding. Arriving at the airport early in the morning, I was so excited about my first trip to Vegas. And, the fact that I wasn’t working on my birthday, for once.
I had taken the year off and was free as a bird.
The first TSA officer was friendly, asking me all sorts of questions about my trip. Yet, shocked that I chose to celebrate my birthday alone. I got my body scanned, carry-on inspected, mugshot taken (when I scanned my passport), and headed to the final checkpoint. This officer brought me back to earth with his interrogation.
Why was I traveling alone?
How was I affording this trip if I didn't have a job?
Why was I going for so long?
WHERE WERE MY HUSBAND AND CHILDREN?
Oops, that last question was from a group of Russian women I’d met at a party. Anyway, I eventually made it through customs and seethed for an hour while waiting to board my flight.
Hey, I enjoy solo travel. I’m not going to apologize for that!
The trip was marvelous! I went to see the Grand Canyon. I used limo service, room service, and called security when I locked myself out of the hotel room safe. My room had a perfect view of the Bellagio Fountains.
I saw Cirque du Soleil, strippers, and danced the night away at a gay club. The craziest thing I did was walk down Fremont Street at night, alone. I ventured away from the main drag to Container Park for a grilled cheese sandwich, at the recommendation of a friend. That was a scary experience. Who knew there were weird people in Vegas?
Ha.
The sandwich was amazing, tho.
Thirty, Flirty, and Childfree
How do I possibly describe the experience of being 30+?
If you haven’t reached 30 yet, hang in there. You’ll hear/see me say this a lot. I repeat myself because it’s vital information!
In specific relation to living childfree, I feel a deeper level of self-assuredness.
A few days ago, I had a conversation with a childfree woman in her 60s. I asked her if she would have possibly changed her mind about wanting kids if she knew, at 30, the things she knows now. Her response was, “No, because I know that I made the best choice for myself.”
The level of comfort I felt after that conversation surprised me. Given the visceral reaction I have when the thought of being a mother occurs, I had to wonder if I was secretly worried about my future.
Not for a second do I think that having children is the answer. It’s more that I want to live the best possible life that I can.
For some people, being a parent seems to be the answer. But deep in my bones, I know it’s not for me. No one can predict what my (or anyone else’s ) future will be like. That being said, I do know how I want to feel.
Free.
Confident.
Glamorous.
Valuable.
Every year that passes, the more I embrace these feelings. In turn, I look for ways to pass these feelings on to others who want to feel the same.
Childfree Pick-of-the-Week
This week’s pick is a comprehensive guide to thriving as a childfree woman in the modern world. Created by Isabel Firecracker, of The Uprising Spark. This free ebook is available on her website. (There is an email signup.)
30+ pages of content with useful information, resources, and questions to help you on your journey!
Final Thoughts
At the beginning of this newsletter, I asked you what your dream Advent calendar would be. To answer my own question, mine would be 24 luxury hotel suites in the best hotels worldwide. I LOVE a good hotel suite. Especially on adult-only floors.
Runnerup: 24 (more) journals! No such thing as too many journals, IMO.
Also, if you are celebrating a birthday in the next 12 months,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Until next time,
LeNora Faye