29

Last weekend I turned 29 (and being the over thinker that I am), reflected on the past year, and realised it’s been… a lot.

I started a new job, got married, brought home a golden retriever puppy (Crumble – adorable, mildly feral), and recently started redeveloping my blog The Yellow Book, a slightly chaotic but super fun side project dedicated to places I’m mildly obsessed with.

Professionally, I’ve stepped into an amazing role that’s challenged me in all the right ways. Personally, it’s been a serious crash course in balance: adjusting to life’s big milestones, learning to function on less sleep than I thought was physically possible, and figuring out what growth and ‘doing well’ really feels like.

What I’m starting to realise is that ‘doing well’ and ‘development’ isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes it’s about seeing what’s already going well, and giving yourself permission to enjoy it.

It’s about knowing when to push and when to pause. When to take on something new, and when to just have a cuppa and walk the dog.

And it’s about realising that even the most over-complicated to-do list (or productivity system I’ve optimised multiple times with ChatGPT…) won’t fix what a good pub visit, a catch up with a friend and a bit of perspective can.

So I just wanted to share this because if you’re also navigating ambition, change, and the odd existential spiral about whether you’re doing enough, same.

Development goals for year 29: keep going, enjoy more, and keep the dog alive.