I Made It! You Made It! We Made It!
My Birthday ReflectionI just finished what people call the master teacher year—the Jesus year, 33. It is officially my birthday, and I’ve been thinking about something my grandma once shared with me. She said that she and her sister call each other on their birthdays and say, “I made it!” My grandma is also a December baby, so I called her a few weeks ago on her birthday and said, “You made it!” I lost my best friend when she was 36. I lost my mother when she was 45. So making it to 34 is… whew. It’s a gift. I know this year has been trying for many of us, myself included, so I want to spend a little time sharing some lessons. The first one is this: We must acknowledge our wins. I encourage you to set aside time to do this before the year is over. Sometimes we miss the wins because they don’t look impressive in a culture that is hell-bent on striving, achieving, mounting the next task, and constantly asking “what’s next?” We forget to honor what’s now.
And it’s the small wins that compound into the big ones over time. Around this time last year, my biggest win was being sober from alcohol for two days. Two days. And now as of two days ago, I’ve been sober from alcohol for an entire year. Often the wins we scoff at are the very ones that quietly change our lives. Another major lesson this year was that I disappointed a lot of people. I disappointed expectations of who I was supposed to be, how available I was supposed to be, how flexible I was supposed to be with my boundaries. I didn’t over-explain. I didn’t make dramatic exits. I didn’t prioritize other people’s comfort when they kept trying to cross my boundaries. My external approval rating definitely went down. But my internal approval rating went up.
In past years, I would suppress myself. I’d lie. I’d make excuses. I’d step over my own boundaries just to stay in relationship with others and ease their discomfort as well as my own. This year taught me why it’s non-negotiable for me to be true to myself—even when it costs me access, closeness, or approval. Another major lesson was deepening my relationship with my Spirit Team and truly walking my unique spiritual path. I learned to go to them first when fears, concerns, and worries arose. I even got a separate journal just for that relationship.
When I trusted Spirit more—and kept certain things private—I watched things unfold in ways that honestly blew me away. This year also showed me how many of us have been running on a half deck… sometimes a quarter deck… and still making it happen. It also made clear that moving forward, survival alone is no longer the assignment. That clarity is why this platform evolved into the Spiritual House it is now.
So for posterity, here are my wins from this year. Some of these don’t look like wins on paper—but they truly are. And you don’t have to share all of yours, but maybe share one or two you’re most proud of in the comments so I can celebrate you. Or, if it’s private just type “I won”. And we will celebrate you. Wins for 2025
As I turn 34 and step into a new cycle, my intention is simple: to move with a full deck, honor my body and spirit in real time, and keep choosing alignment over approval. If you’re closing a chapter too, I invite you—gently—to write down where you won this year. Especially the wins that didn’t feel like wins at the time, but were blessings in disguise. We still here. We still becoming. We grateful. ✨ Birthday Offering ✨
I encourage you to subscribe to LaMar’s Substack. Her sound healings are beautiful, and the way she shares vulnerably has a real impact on the people around her. I’m honored to be in community with her. LaMakhosi (La Mar)
I encourage you to subscribe to Lakeisha on Substack. Her work on the energetics of writing centers Black and Brown writers, and she’s doing important work challenging the constraints of the traditional publishing industry. Being in community with her is a gift. Lakeisha | High Priestess xoxo, Goddess Theadora |
