I didn’t realize that a simple phrase like “do epic shit” would quietly become a filter for my life. Not in a loud, reckless way. In a deeply clarifying one. This was the year of risk and adventure, yes, but more than that, it was a year of choosing myself again and again. Even when it felt uncomfortable. Even when it didn’t make sense on paper.

There’s a children’s book by Joanna Gaines titled The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be. I’ve given it more than once as a baby gift, a small blessing for a brand new life coming into the world. But if I’m honest, it’s a message we all need to hear, no matter our age.