Dear Reader, guess what? It’s my birthday! 🥳

A couple weeks ago a friend said something that’s been rattling around in my brain ever since.

“There are only two people you ever need to make proud of you,” she said.

It’s not your parents. It’s not your kids. It’s not even your partner or spouse.

It’s your 8-year-old self, and your 80-year-old self.

Your 8-year-old self doesn’t judge you. She lives in the moment. She dives into the waves without worrying about the water temperature. She picks up the paintbrush and plunges it into the paint without worrying what people will think of the final product.

Your 80-year-old self also doesn’t judge you, but for different reasons. She has earned the wisdom to know that in the end, other people’s opinions just don’t matter. What matters is, have you given it your all? Have you run the good race? Have you been true to you?

So on this occasion of my 58th birthday, when I’m closer to the 80-year-old but still feeling closer to that 8-year-old me…I can confidently say, well, I’m getting there. 🙃

I’ve unpacked the last box from my move, and re-organized all my stash, WIPS and store samples from the old Loops days. I’ve done this many times in the past, but this time felt easier and lighter.

Probably because the older I get, the more I know who I really am, which yarn I will actually use and which WIPs I will actually finish. Plus I found some buried treasure – a project that was essentially finished – all it needed was a blocking and one seam (see Project Watch section for the result!)