On self-love.

For many years, I’ve had the unique privilege of making birthday cakes for all the people I love most. It has become one way I get to speak out my love for them: knowing them well enough to know what they like; taking time and care in putting ingredients together to make something (hopefully) delicious and beautiful; helping them to see and celebrate their specialness.

There’s something sacred to me about getting to create the vessel that holds the candle that the birthday wish is made on. There’s something important about a birthday wish, and the container that holds it. Watching the celebrated person soak in the reverberation of love coming from those they love who are delighted to share their love- all filling the container for them to stand upon while they make their wish for the year to come. It’s magic ✨

For years, I’ve cherished my ever-expanding list of cake people- the people I love most. The people I cheer for. The ones who cheer for me.

Today is my 42nd birthday. This year, I have added myself to the list of those I love best. I made this cake for myself in celebration of all the love that flows to me, around me, and within me. I made this cake with love and tenderness and patience and delight.

This cake is a small but meaningful way I am stepping into the person I was always meant to be 💗

My wish for this next turn around the sun: that we may continue to find ways to love ourselves a little deeper, a little fuller, a little grander. That we may engage passionately in creating a beautiful and delicious container for our own love.

Because if we don’t PRACTICE feeling worthy of our own love, how can we expect others to know how to love us?