Big Updates and Exciting Changes Ahead!

Hey friends,

It feels like the perfect time for a little life update. So much has been happening, and even more is on the horizon! I can hardly believe it, but I only have five classes left until I officially complete my bachelor’s degree! My end date is set for May 25, 2025, and while that might still be a couple of months away, the finish line is finally in sight. I’ve worked so hard to get here, and to mark the moment, I ordered myself a simple little ring. It’s nothing flashy, but it holds so much meaning, a quiet reminder of how far I’ve come and what I’ve overcome to get to this point.

In even more exciting news, I’ll be attending my graduation ceremony in September, but I’m hoping to begin my master’s program to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) this August, just a few months from now! If all goes according to plan, I’ll be starting my next chapter right after finishing this one. It feels like life is moving fast but in the best possible way.

Before any of that begins, though, I’ll be heading overseas for most of June. This trip has been a long time coming, and I’m beyond thrilled to finally be taking some time to breathe, explore, and recharge before my next academic adventure. We’ve added Scotland to our itinerary, my family’s ancestral homeland, and I’m absolutely over the moon about it. It’s going to be such a meaningful and memorable stop before heading back home.

With all of these major events coming up, I’ve made the decision to take a short hiatus from writing. I absolutely love sharing my thoughts, experiences, and reflections with you all, but right now, my energy is needed elsewhere. Between wrapping up these last few courses and diving headfirst into wedding season at the florist, things are about to get a little wild, in the best, most floral kind of way. While writing doesn’t take up too much of my time, it does require a certain kind of mental space that I simply don’t have right now. I plan to start writing again either later this summer or when I inevitably find myself itching to put my thoughts into words again.

On a more personal note, I’m also getting ready to celebrate a pretty big milestone; my 30th birthday is just around the corner! My amazing mother-in-love is throwing me the most magical Alice in Wonderland-themed birthday party, and my dear friend Rachel is helping her bring it all to life. I’m beyond excited! Honestly, I’ve never been one to dread getting older. I’m stepping into this next decade with so much gratitude, hope, and a strong desire to make my 30s even more meaningful than my 20s. I’ve learned so much in the last decade about resilience, growth, and staying true to who I am, and I know the best is still to come.

So here’s to change, to growth, and to follow your passions, even when the road is long, the work is hard, and the timeline isn’t what you imagined. Every step forward is still progress, and I’m thankful for every single one of you who’s followed along on this journey with me.

We’ll talk again soon. Bye for now, and cheers to what’s next! 🥂✨

- Payton Blackwood