Leo Season
As I approach my 41st birthday, naturally I am reflecting on the year that has passed.
In the last couple of years I have written a book, purchased a holiday let and got myself sober. A lot has happened in a relatively short space of time. Lots of positive changes all at once that have, at times, felt overwhelming.
There have been some really tough times amongst all of those major life achievements. Some of them that I just did not see coming. The responsibility of managing a holiday let, putting every last penny I had into setting it up and dealing with soaring energy costs amongst the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis. Added to that was the overwhelm I felt of publishing my memoir and exposing myself as a sex worker.
It’s funny how we can dream throughout our whole lives about achieving certain things but no one can really prepare you for how that feels and what struggles may come with it. But through those struggles has come a shed load of growth. Growth that I feel is invaluable both personally and professionally. I’ve spent the best part of the last year feeling uncomfortable and living way out of my comfort zone. Because I understand that getting out my comfort zone is where the real magic happens even though I may not feel like that at the time.
‘The sweet is never as sweet without the sour.’ Vanilla Sky – and boy do I understand the meaning of that phrase now!
I’ve always said that it’s a privilege to grow old. I get frustrated when I hear people moaning about getting older. I’ve never felt that way. I’ve always felt that each birthday is to be cherished and celebrated because life is a lottery and the one thing that we all have in common is that none of us know when our ‘check out’ date is.
I’ll be heading to one of my favourite London restaurants with my bestie to celebrate, Mexican style. I am going to eat my weight in tacos, order dessert and guzzle as many mocktails as I wish. I am going to soak up every molecule of the evening. Cheers to Leo season! Cheers to turning 41!