28 Trips Around the Sun, Self-Awareness, and an Invitation
Love has a funny way of shining a spotlight on us.
My baby turned 28 this week.
I can hardly believe she’s been living outside my body for more than 10k days.
Crazy, right?
Naturally, witnessing my progeny inch closer to her third decade makes me pause.
But here's the thing about my daughter: her brain makes my brain think. Her heart makes my heart tender. The way she thinks and the way she “be’s” has made me a better person.
We have these fantastic, insightful, and sometimes heated discussions.
These are the kinds of conversations that do somersaults in your skull.
The kind that changes you from the inside out —deep, DNA-shifting kind of stuff.
We talk about things that you can’t not (double negative be damned) think about for days on end.
This is the sh*t that self-awareness is made of.
But you know what? Self-awareness doesn’t happen for everyone.
I might even venture to say that self-awareness is too risky sometimes, especially when it comes to love and relationships.
The risk of looking at ourselves, I mean really looking at ourselves, is too expensive sometimes.
Because it can mean facing truths that are uncomfortable, maybe even painful.
It can mean confronting the parts of ourselves we'd rather not see—the insecurities, the flaws, and the mistakes we’ve hidden away.
But here’s the thing, the mirror doesn't lie, which is refreshing and terrifying as hell.
The mirror, if we dare look, reflects who we truly are, not just who we want to be. And that's a vulnerability many of us are not ready to endure, especially in the context of love and relationships.
Love has a funny way of shining a spotlight on us.
Love, when it’s real and true, makes us feel seen. This should be comforting, but for those who hide from ourselves, it makes us feel exposed.
The irony is that intimacy—whether with a partner, a friend, or your 28-year-old child — can only happen in the presence of self-awareness.
To be truly loved, we must first be known. And to be known, we must first know ourselves.
So what’s the alternative?
The alternative is living on the surface—enduring relationships that never scratch below the superficial. It’s never feeling seen, loved, or like we matter. The alternative is to live with resentment and regret.
I look at my daughter, who is still finding her way, and see how she leans in and looks herself square in the eye, even when it's hard. And it makes me wish that kind of bravery for everyone.
It also makes me really proud of myself for accidentally and not at all on purpose modeling self-awareness for my little audience of one.
And now I want to invite you to be brave with me in The Heart Mirror.
The Heart Mirror is a 6-week self-discovery and personal growth journaling experience centered around the dynamics of relationships.
This experience will provide a unique opportunity to renegotiate your relationship with relationships —without scheduling Zoom meetings or attending live classes.
All for a humble investment of just $11.
The structure is simple — each week, you'll receive a carefully curated prompt focused on self-awareness.
The prompts will be dropped into the Voxer portal, so they'll all be in one place.
I'll be sharing personal stories and anecdotes to remind you that you're not the only one and to help you thoughtfully explore the topic.
There will be a separate and dedicated discussion thread to gain unique perspectives from your peers, ask questions, and share insights.
You will also have direct access to me in the discussion thread for the duration of the experience.
The best part of The Heart Mirror is that it isn't just about introspection —it's about transformation.
Let's make shift happen 👇🏾