Katelyn Brooke

Wishlist for 24

personal

4 Oct

Today I am 24 years old.  To be honest, I thought I would feel older by now.  Like a grown up.  I’m married, I pay bills, and I have work, but I still feel like I’m impersonating an adult sometimes.  Does anyone else feel like that?

When I think about 23, I don’t think that I’ll remember it as the best year ever.  There were some great things about it, but there was also a lot of stress and growing that happened.  It was a good year, but it was kind of a hard one.

I have some ideas about how I’d like 24 to go.  Not goals exactly, but some things I’d like to accomplish or improve on.  For me.

Rediscover my confidence.  For as long as I can remember, being confident was an innate part of who I was.  Over the last five years or so that’s become less and less true.  I’m done with that.

Own my accomplishments.  I am completely uncomfortable acknowledging my strengths in verbal conversation.  That might sound like something cheesy you’d say in an interview, but it’s actually a really bad quality.  Is this the path that I envisioned for myself?  No.  Do I have doubts?  Of course.  That doesn’t make what I’ve achieved and what I do any less cool.  I need to learn to be my own biggest advocate.

Be more in touch with my friends, but stop worrying about friendships.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to keep in touch but don’t do much about it.  But experience will tell you that everything will be okay, and the real deal with always be there.

Fall back in love with exercise.  For how it will make me feel, not how it will make me look.

Spend more time alone and unplugged.  This has always been where I thrive.  This is where the magic happens.

Revel in this season of my life.  It is fleeting.  I might not have enough money to fill my wardrobe with expensive clothes, and my apartment might not be worthy of publication.  But that’s okay- it’s just part of this season of my life.  The next season will likely not allow for leisurely lunch breaks with Brian in front of the TV or going out with your friends on a Wednesday.  Treasure those freedoms.

Explore more.  Plan less.  Just because you weren’t planning on driving somewhere today, doesn’t mean you can’t hop in the car and go somewhere new.

I’m probably going to be taking it easy on the work/blogging/social media today in an effort to get a head start on this list.  Don’t forget that today is the last day to enter the giveaway!

73 Comments

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Comments

  1. Susan says

    October 4, 2012 at 7:18 am

    Happy Birthday Katelyn! Those are fantastic resolutions and to tell you the truth I have very similar ones. I know you can reach them all and I hope 24 is the best year yet!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:09 pm

      Thanks Susan! They’re probably things I’ll have to work on over a few years, but I figured writing them down has gotta be a good place to start, right? :)

      Reply
  2. Anna says

    October 4, 2012 at 7:27 am

    Happy, happy Birthday to you, dear Kate! I wish I could have been where you are at 24 (and I know there aren’t many years separating us, but still) You’r thoughts are very mature. I can’t wait to see how this year will be for you!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 5:55 pm

      Thanks Anna, me too :)

      Reply
  3. Megan says

    October 4, 2012 at 8:00 am

    Happy birthday!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:14 pm

      Thanks Megan! :)

      Reply
  4. Janelle D says

    October 4, 2012 at 8:36 am

    Happy Birthday Kate! I hope you get spoiled.

    I totally feel like I’m pretending sometimes. I have a corporate job, but I did Psych. I’m a supervisor of 2 people but I don’t like my work environment. I’m always stressed about money. Thank you, student loans. I’m mastering the ‘fake it ’til you make it’ attitude. Haha.

    # 5 & 6 are ones I strive for everyday but they’re a never-ending challenge, that’s for sure. Trying to be mindful, present and live a balanced lifestyle is worth all the planning, I think. Anyway, ramble over. Hope you have a great day!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:15 pm

      Thanks Janelle! I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who struggles with this stuff :)

      Reply
  5. kinga says

    October 4, 2012 at 8:55 am

    Happy Birthday Katelyn! I hope you have a fabulous day! I still don’t feel like an adult and I’m turning 30 next year. I wait for that magic moment when I’ll feel grown up…not sure it’s ever going to happen…and maybe that’s a good thing!

    Enjoy!!!!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:15 pm

      Thanks Kinga! You’ll have to let me know if it ever comes, I’m doubtful myself at this point :)

      Reply
  6. Amanda Bumgarner says

    October 4, 2012 at 9:15 am

    Happy birthday! I feel like that too…and I’m 26 :) Good luck with your goals. Those are good ones!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:17 pm

      Thanks Amanda!

      Reply
  7. Mark Allman says

    October 4, 2012 at 9:38 am

    Happy Birthday Katelyn!

    I am 53 and sometimes I wonder when they are going to show up and tell everyone this guy is an impostor. I think life does have a way of beating the confidence out of you. I also think you come to realize after you have gone through the bad and ugly and came out the other side that confidence is not what it is all made out to be. What is important is your willingness to put one foot in front of the other and keep working on the important stuff.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:33 pm

      Thanks Mark! I guess I’d settle for less self-doubt and anxiety surrounding how I present myself to others :)

      Reply
  8. Faison says

    October 4, 2012 at 9:51 am

    Happy birthday Katelyn! I hope 24 is everything you want it to be!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks Faison! :)

      Reply
  9. Jess // Curating Style says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:02 am

    Happy birthday, Kate! And I love your list. :) Exciting times are ahead!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks Jess, I think so! :)

      Reply
  10. Allyssa says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:12 am

    Happy Birthday!! Good luck with your goals!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks Allyssa! We’ll see… :)

      Reply
  11. caroline says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:28 am

    happy birthday sweet girl!!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:35 pm

      Thanks Caroline! By the way- just clicked over to your blog and I’m loving that outfit that you posted yesterday!

      Reply
  12. Whitney says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:45 am

    Happy birthday love! These are great goals. I especially like the one about being your own biggest advocate. It’s so true and definitely something that I need to work on as well!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:36 pm

      Thanks Whitney! I feel like I’ve gotten worse about it- I always felt like your work/ what you do should speak for itself, but I feel like that doesn’t fly as an adult. Maybe we can get better at it together! :)

      Reply
  13. Courtney Kirkland says

    October 4, 2012 at 11:05 am

    Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a fantastic day! And what a great list. I think it’s so important to revamp and regroup every year. :)

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:37 pm

      Thanks Courtney! I think just sitting down and writing this list helped me a lot. :)

      Reply
  14. Lisa // Elembee says

    October 4, 2012 at 11:17 am

    Happy birthday! Here’s to a great 24! I feel like I lost a lot of confidence in college, and 24 was the year I started getting it back.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:37 pm

      ME TOO! I’m hoping that’s the case for me :) Thanks Lisa!

      Reply
  15. Anna B. says

    October 4, 2012 at 11:24 am

    I hope this is the happiest of birthdays for you Katelyn! I love your wish list, it having a few things I can totally relate to. I hope the events of coming year allows you to check each one of your goals off.
    xo,
    –Anna

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:38 pm

      Thanks Anna, me too! :)

      Reply
  16. Emily says

    October 4, 2012 at 11:44 am

    Happy Birthday lovely!!!! I hope it’s a great year for you!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:38 pm

      Thanks Emily! :)

      Reply
  17. Brooke says

    October 4, 2012 at 11:47 am

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY Katelyn! I hope this year brings you many joys!

    I love your list and should make note of those things myself! I can tell you that even at 33 sometimes I still feel like I’m impersonating an adult :) I don’t think there’s anything wrong with still having a young spirit even as we age and take on more and more adult responsibilites. Enjoy it!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:39 pm

      Thanks Brooke! I agree, hopefully I’ll get better at it!

      Reply
  18. Milynn says

    October 4, 2012 at 12:00 pm

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :) These are great goals! I have pretty much all of that on my list too, I think I just need to work harder on them.

    have a great day!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks Milynn :) Let’s do it!

      Reply
  19. Lindsay @ Trial By Sapphire says

    October 4, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    Happy birthday, beautiful and talented woman!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 4:47 pm

      Thanks Lindsay! Your words always get me pumped :)

      Reply
  20. Kristin B says

    October 4, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Firstly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :D Hope you’re having a good one today! :D

    I love that you made little goals for yourself. I turn 25 at the end of this year and I think I’m starting to freak out. So in particular, I really relate to your 2nd to last point – there are things in life that we want to achieve at this point in our lives, but some of that we’re just not there yet. And you can’t fault yourself for not being there, and not enjoying what we *do* have at this point.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks Kristin! I think I’ll probably freak out when I turn 25- my mom was 25 when I was born and I’ve always thought that would like “real grown up” age. It’s okay, we’ll be fine! :)

      Reply
  21. Lacy says

    October 4, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    Kate, I wish you the happiest of days today and a joyous year!!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks Lacy, you’re so sweet!

      Reply
  22. brynn says

    October 4, 2012 at 3:28 pm

    Happy birthday Kate! I hope all of your birthday wishes come true! xx

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks Brynn! xoxo

      Reply
  23. Stephanie says

    October 4, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    Happy Birthday! Cheers to a great year ahead!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 5:53 pm

      Thanks Stephanie! :)

      Reply
  24. Annelise @ Aunie Sauce says

    October 4, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    happyyyyy b-day! enjoy that exploring, girlfriend! so happy for you and all that life holds!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 5:53 pm

      Thanks Aunie! xoxo

      Reply
  25. Lauren | Seventeenth & Irving says

    October 4, 2012 at 4:52 pm

    Happy Happy HAPPY Birthday, Kate! Loved reading your goals and couldn’t agree more with “revel in this season.” It’s so easy to want more, dream big, do more, push more…it’s what we’re told success is defined as. But then you wake up one day and that time in your life is gone and you say “I wish I had more fun and enjoyed myself more.” Wishing you a year full of no regrets, and enjoying where you are, exactly as you are.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 4, 2012 at 5:55 pm

      Thanks Lauren, you’re awesome! :)

      Reply
  26. Evann says

    October 4, 2012 at 5:59 pm

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRETTY LADY! Hope its filled with cupcakes, champagne, and lots of laughter. These are such great goals to accomplish in the next year.

    evannclingan.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 5, 2012 at 10:10 am

      Thanks Evann! We celebrated on Wednesday night, so yesterday we just had a nice lazy day :)

      Reply
  27. Kristen Kinney says

    October 4, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    Oh, Kate! I loved this post. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays! I’m not far behind you… I’ll be 24 in January, & I’m so feeling what you’re saying about sometimes feeling like you’re impersonating an adult.

    I really love the one about falling back in love with exercising. I’m right there with ya about loving the way it makes you feel. Endorphins are quite amazing!

    xoxo

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 5, 2012 at 10:11 am

      Thanks Kristen! I’m so glad I’m not the only one :)

      Reply
  28. Michelle says

    October 5, 2012 at 4:04 pm

    LOVE all these goals! They’re so good. You got this, girl.

    Hope you had a GREAT birthday!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 5, 2012 at 5:22 pm

      Thanks Michelle! It was pretty sweet :)

      Reply
  29. The Fashionable ESQ says

    October 5, 2012 at 6:42 pm

    Happy Birthday (belated :( )
    xx
    The Fashionable ESQ
    http://www.thefashionableesq.blogspot.com/

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 6, 2012 at 10:26 am

      Thank you! It was a lot of fun :)

      Reply
  30. Hello, Brandis says

    October 6, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    happy belated birthday :) i just turned 30 and wrote myself a letter, kinda like your post. i just love that and am so glad we met this morning through blog brunch. x x o

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 8, 2012 at 4:53 pm

      Me too, Brandis! Hope you’re having a great Monday :)

      Reply
  31. Amanda Holz says

    October 7, 2012 at 11:28 am

    Hi Kate, you make me chuckle. I still feel like an imposter and I will be 50 soon! Maybe that is what it means to be young at heart. I hope you had a happy birthday and that my package arrived in time. Love you!
    Aunt Amanda

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 8, 2012 at 4:53 pm

      Thanks Aunt Amanda! I haven’t gotten it yet, but sometimes Lexington mail takes a little longer than most :) I’ll be looking for it! Love you too!

      Reply
  32. Honey says

    October 8, 2012 at 4:31 am

    Happy birthday sweet cheeks

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 8, 2012 at 4:52 pm

      Thanks! :)

      Reply
  33. Jelli says

    October 8, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    Happy birthday! I can completely relate to “impersonating an adult.” I’m 28, have a 1 year-old and nearly 4 years of marriage under my belt, and completely feel like there’s no way I could really be an adult sometimes.

    Reply
  34. Megan C. Stroup says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:39 pm

    Happy belated birthday! I hope all your wishes for the upcoming year come true. :)

    Reply
  35. Nicole Sanchez says

    December 21, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    Hi Kate,

    I came across your blog on Pinterest. I’ve been blogging on and off since 2009. My blog is mainly a journal of me and my family so I have it set to private, but I’m always looking for tips on how to do it bigger and better. Next year, I’m going to work on getting a better camera and posting more frequently. What type of photo editing do you use? Specifically for the photo in this post.

    Thanks again for all your helpful posts.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      December 22, 2013 at 10:13 am

      Hi Nicole! I use Photoshop, but I think that for what I did in this photo Photoshop Elements would do just fine! I used my Wacom tablet for the lettering. Hope that helps!

      Reply

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