19 Comments
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Heather G.'s avatar

Stephanie from That Bookish Life and I had the same thoughts yesterday as we talked about turning 40! Not concerned, it just feels like official adulthood status. I also love a birthday goal and am dreaming up a big project to kickoff as I approach 39 in July. Wishing you well in this new goal and looking forward to following along your reading and watch list here on Substack! Oh, and your list of birthday demands were perfection!

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Stephanie's avatar

Ha! Was just coming to say this. It feels nice knowing we're not alone in our thoughts. And surely we'll all feel like very adulty adults at 40, right?!

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Kerry Winfrey's avatar

Nothing better than a birthday project! I hope you have a wonderful 39th when July rolls around!

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Tess Malone's avatar

I have a June birthday, and I do appreciate the mid-year reset mentality.

My psychiatrist always prescribes me my Prozac, but also talks up how great exercise is. I’ve gotten a new tattoo recently and then an awful cold, so I’ve been exercising less and I realize how much it structures my days now that I don’t have it. I’ve been going a bit nuts without it.

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Kerry Winfrey's avatar

Yeah, for me it's one of those things where I don't realize how much I need it until I haven't worked out in a few days and then I start my rapid downward mental spiral!

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Meg's avatar

SAME. To all of this. We can be like Sally -- a sip and a scroll, but "on the side".

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Stephanie's avatar

I'll take Sally crying over 40 eventually. I recently watched the Friends episode where Rachel turns 30 and... I felt weird.

Cheers (with a delicious non-alcoholic bevvie) to another year and I absolutely endorse every holiday, especially something as important as your birthday, being celebrated with a wealth of good food and books!

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Katelyn's avatar

Happy birthday 💐

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Kerry Winfrey's avatar

thank you!

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Cath's avatar

I hate how effective a 30 minute walk is for my mental health. It's so stupidly simple! The walk girlies were right!!

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Kerry Winfrey's avatar

Nothing turns the day around like a walk! It fixes the VAST majority of my bad moods!

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LF's avatar

I hope 39 is your most amazing year!!! I deleted the Substack app (though I use the desktop version during the day), and it is very freeing. I also delete IG M-F. I don't know if I am on my THAT much less, but my mind feels less cluttered.

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Kerry Winfrey's avatar

I think deleting the Substack app is the way to go because every time I look at it, I'm like...why am I doing this.

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Lael Moore's avatar

Happy birthday!! Also, I’m reading Early Morning Riser on your recommendation and enjoying it very much!

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Kerry Winfrey's avatar

Oh yay, that makes me so happy!! And thank you!

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Beth Bazzle's avatar

For my birthday this year, my husband made me an ‘independent book store checklist’ and we are going to (and getting a book at) each one throughout the year!

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Kerry Winfrey's avatar

A perfect gift!! That's true love!

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I'm on the other side of 40 now and it's great over here! It's honestly very much the same as 39! Life goes on! I'm glad you had such a good birthday this year and I always love an excuse to take stock of things, to eat good food, to think about where I want to spend my attention. The most earth-shattering news that came from this was that I did not realize you were only a Peloton convert from 2023! Your passion and dedication speak to someone who'd been at it since at LEAST 2021!

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Kerry Winfrey's avatar

I fell hard and fast for Peloton...if we were a romance novel, it would be insta-love!

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