I’m actually excited for my birthday this year. I felt that magic swirl around me at the beginning of the month. My inner fireplace has been rekindled. Truly nothing has come close to dimming my light these last few weeks. The fire isn’t roaring, it’s more so humming a hymnal. My nose this time of year is extra attuned to the scents of burned birch, oak, fir and pine. The wood crackles and hisses happily as I’ve continued to stoke the fire daily with all my favorite sources of inspiration. Food, family, fungi and much more. Abundance is felt within and all around. Glimmers so frequent and bright it’s like glitter confetti raining down on me. If it isn’t clear, I’m very happy to be here.
This past year has been centered around time & patience. In most of my recent writings, I’ve expanded on my feelings about time. The more I write and reflect on time, the clearer I feel about it. It’s like an accordion to me. The last 8-10 years has felt like the accordion has been extending. Crescendo-ing with one big life event after another. But lately, the accordion has been closing. Everything has felt quieter and closer to the heart. Realizing that I’m still very close to my 8 year old self and 15 year old self as much as my 25 year old self to now is surprisingly comforting. Those other versions of myself are both gone and still alive. Maybe I should stop there before I get too metaphysical…nah let’s get metaphysical so I can put my philosophy degree to use.
From the womb until now, I’m at my core the same person. Each iteration of Carrington is different than the last yet at my core, in the essence of my being, I am the same person. That continuity, again, is comforting. I have not wavered on my dreams and passions that started when I was quite young. And they’ve all come to fruition thus far. If I could tell my younger self anything, it would be to practice patience. For being patient makes the process more enjoyable and less agonizing.
I strongly believe my life lesson is to master my impatient nature. I’m patient in waiting for the things I want but very impatient in waiting to get out of situations that I don’t want. I tend to get what I want which is nice but I have no data to tell you the rate in which it comes to me. Finishing school felt never ending but it did end. Having my son was actually very fast. I have no control of when it all happens but I am in control of how I respond to waiting. Being patient when I’m uncomfortable requires constant reminders that what is happening is “for” me and not happening “to” me.
The biggest surprise of the year so far is learning that dreams can be rehabilitated. I will do no justice in summarizing the wisdom shared by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener from The Moon Studio. So I highly suggest you look into her work to learn more about this. She’s been my unofficial spiritual teacher for about 5 years now and I love all her work. So for example, my dreams of having a family to forage with, writing freely and being a chef have all been rehabilitated this year alone. The dreams don’t look like how I imagined, no, but I’m happy they don’t because they’re actually better. And who doesn’t like better?
I have no idea how to end this letter. I just wanted to get some thoughts down on paper (on pixels?) to share what I’ve gleaned from the past year. My last birthday was the worst one I had in a while so I’m just so happy this one is feeling much brighter and lighter.
God has given me a very good life. God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. What a time to be alive. :)
Warmly,
28 year young Carri
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Here’s how you can help me celebrate my birthday!!!
Donate to any of the following organizations:
Ivy Creek Foundation (my favorite hiking trails)
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (libraries are the only thing the government does right and I love each branch)
Birth Sisters of Charlottesville (wonderful resource for new mothers)
Wildlife Center of Virginia (help save the critters!)
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (have you seen food prices? help prevent food insecurity!)
Order some baked goods from Chanterelle Cafe
Send me fun bevy money to @withcarrington on Venmo :)
Happy Birthday 🎈 Reading about your excitement and happiness to be here is soul-filling.
happy birthday ❤️