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Maddie Burton's avatar

Sophia, this was such a beautiful meditation on the beginning of 37. Perhaps I’m extra-partial to it because I’m just past the halfway mark (37.5) myself! Welcome to the club, my friend. šŸ˜Ž

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Sophia Le's avatar

Hear hear for '87 babes 🄳 Is your birthday in March or April? (Am I doing my math correctly?)

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Maddie Burton's avatar

I’m November ā€˜86! So I’ll be 38 in four months, I guess…time flies. šŸ˜®ā€šŸ’Ø

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Sophia Le's avatar

Now it's abundantly clear why I'm a writer, not a mathematician 🤣 We can make 38 the new 21!

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Maddie Burton's avatar

Listen, same 🤣 And: cheers to that!!

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Alyssa Jarrett's avatar

Happy belated bday! I'll be 35 this year, but I always feel like my milestone ages are dominated by something else (getting married a month before 30, becoming a published author this year) so I never have enough time to process them lol. But I relate to your mindset that our HEAs are forever in progress.

And those s'mores look amazing!! I gotta give them a try :)

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Nicolas Nelson's avatar

Yay, Sophia! Happy birthday! Keep up the good living.

This brought back so many thoughts and feels from my own 30s, when life was on an even keel and kids were young and fun. Some of the best years of my life.

Things were upended for a few years, but we found our equilibrium again for another fifteen years; now we are at another difficult seam in life, but we'll push through it and, I hope, find a new equilibrium in the Pacific Northwest.

Having twice experienced the "37s" you describe so well (um, my own idiosyncratic version anyway), I am confident I'll find it again, in a truly empty nest this time.

Grace and strength to you at 37 and always!

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Sophia Le's avatar

Thank you, Coach! Life is good at simultaneously delighting and challenging us—once we think we established a new normal, an inciting incident throws us for a loop! And once things have settled down, a visit to Powell's is a must for any writer living in the PNW.

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Nicolas Nelson's avatar

Duly noted! Powell's, here I come (in September most likely)

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Tanmeet Sethi, MD's avatar

Sophia I loved this! What a testament to your capacity to embrace all facets of yourself. May the rest of the summer be smooth and full of sweet moments!

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Sophia Le's avatar

Thanks Tanmeet, couldn't have done it without your guidance! Wishing the same for your summer (and hello, the nice weather finally arrived šŸŒž)

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Sophia Le's avatar

Thanks! I can only imagine what you will accomplish at 40 šŸ¤— And yes, maybe a Portland writing retreat?!

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