• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Tyranny of Pink

We Are All Made Of Stories

  • Home
  • About
    • Subscribe to Tyranny of Pink
    • My Ostomy Journey
    • In the Media / Features
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Posts by Jonelle
    • Life
      • Authentic Living
      • Living with Intention
      • Motherhood
      • Emigrating
      • Mental Well-Being
      • That time I nearly died
      • Self-Confidence
      • Social Issues
    • Death & Grief
    • Travel
      • Destinations
      • Tips / Advice
    • Success & Career
      • Women’s Empowerment
      • Jobs & Career
      • Productivity
      • Interesting Careers
      • Blogging
    • Ostomy Journey
  • Contact Me
You are here: Home / Blog / Hello 37!

Hello 37!

22nd January 2020 By Jonelle 2 Comments

37 things about 37 year old me!

The older you get, the more you learn about the world and about yourself. I hope that ageing is something that you appreciate. I think the best part about facing death, being exposed to grief, is learning how much living there is left to do and being accutely aware of the constant power of death. Life is short but it is beautiful. If you live it well. This is a little list about me, who I am right now and the things that one day, I may want to be reminded of from 2020. So here you go, an unexciting list about me!  Hello 37!

  1. I have a 4 year old son. How did this happen so fast?
  2. I’ve been married for 7 years to the love of my life.
  3. I live in Brooklyn in Wellington, New Zealand.
  4. I love it here.
  5. I work for the Council as a Community Safety Advisor.
  6. I love my job.
  7. I have never loved a job this much.
  8. I suffer from chronic pain but for the first time in four years, I’m being treated and I’m optimistic about healing.
  9. I am happy. Like wake up and smile at the new day happy.
  10. I love walking in green forests on the weekend.
  11. My neighbours are awesome.
  12. I have a really great bunch of friends – I’m thankful for them.
  13. New Zealand feels like home to me. I feel like I belong here.
  14. I am in the final stages of selling my house in Cape Town and I’m thrilled.
  15. I miss my friends in Cape Town.
  16. I am dying without my dogs – I hope they get here soon.
  17. I love the feeling of freedom.
  18. We submitted our residency application early January and we are waiting to see what happens.
  19. I am consumed by grief and I don’t know how to get over it.
  20. I still manage to be happy – in spite of my grief and pain.
  21. I don’t talk to my brothers often enough – I wish I did.
  22. My child is the best thing in my life, which says something because there are a lot of really good things.
  23. I talk to my bestie Maz almost daily – not in actual calls – we don’t work that way – and I don’t know how I’d cope with anything without her.
  24. I’ve missed out on the birth of one of my best friends baby’s and the wedding of my childhood bestie. Another bestie is about to get married and I’ll miss her wedding too. I feel sad about that.
  25. I have 11 tattoos. For now.
  26. I have two more planned already.
  27. I can’t buy a house until I have residency – when I do – I can bring my dogs over.
  28. I feel immense guilt about leaving them behind, they don’t understand.
  29. I’ve never recovered from losing my father. I still burst into tears spontaneously.
  30. I don’t believe I will ever recover.
  31. I am addicted to online shopping. I need to stop.
  32. I am also addicted to work but I’m trying to learn to balance it with my life.
  33. I don’t read enough books anymore but I’ve read more in the last 6 months than the 3 years before then.
  34. I have never felt more like myself than I do here.
  35. I have a longing desire to go to Japan and I hope we get to do that next year.
  36.  I am massively overweight and I hate it, but I’m trying to do something about that while addressing my pain.
  37. I am not afraid of getting older – I’m settling into my life, I feel so content. I am so very thankful for every single day that I’ve been gifted since I survived.

Happy 37th birthday to me!

 

32 year old me knew a few things… 

Filed Under: Blog, Expat Adventures, Life, Reflections on Life Tagged With: 37 years old, acceptance, be unapologetically you, be who you are, birthday list, life purpose, unapologetically me

Previous Post: « It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas
Next Post: The river of grief »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Celeste says

    23rd January 2020 at 8:59 am

    I would be envious of you if I didn’t love you so much. You were meant to be a kiwi. Life there suits you and you wear it well. I often look at your pictures and smile because you do look content. And how is O 4yo already??

    Reply
    • Jonelle says

      27th February 2020 at 6:33 pm

      I don’t know how I missed this – you rock!
      Thanks for always being there cheering me on!

      I don’t know how he’s going to school and turning five this year. I DON’T KNOW!!!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Jonelle

I write things, I make art, I like good food, wine, a whisky after a rough day and I’m always up for a new adventure. I believe we can all contribute to a better world and we should do it while living authentically. I answer to “mommy,” live in Wellington New Zealand with my family and work for Local Goverment. Welcome to my blog…

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

What's Popular?

  • Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many | Tyranny of Pink
    Authentic Living, Being You, Blog Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many
  • She's strong but she's exhausted - Taking care of Me! Tyranny of Pink
    Being Resilient, Blog, Mental Well-Being She’s strong but she’s exhausted – Taking care of Me!
  • She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible | Tyranny of Pink
    Being Resilient, Blog, Life She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible – An anonymous guest post
  • What it was like having my stoma reversed | Tyranny of Pink
    Being an Ostomate, That time I nearly died What it was like having my stoma reversal
  • Being You, Blog, Reflections on Life The story of two bloggers who lived happily ever after

Recent Posts

  • Migration Tales – New Zealand in the times of Covid-19
  • The story of two bloggers who lived happily ever after
  • 3 great TED Talks to watch about race, inequality & being antiracist!
  • Do you have any issues with belonging she asked me
  • 4 years after my life-changing colostomy reversal surgery

Recent Comments

  • Jonelle on Lazarus – A quick-start to making life easier for Ostomates
  • Naomi on Lazarus – A quick-start to making life easier for Ostomates
  • Jonelle on 4 years after my life-changing colostomy reversal surgery
  • Adelle on 4 years after my life-changing colostomy reversal surgery
  • Maz on The story of two bloggers who lived happily ever after

Categories

Archives

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Wooohooo and the birthday weekend begins. Starting Wooohooo and the birthday weekend begins. Starting strong with prosecco and #Parrotdog

#cheers #happybirthdaytome  #prosecco #birthdaythings #happylife #newzealand #localtravel #craftbeer
Yum. Yum.
My Jax and the rolling hills of home. #Swaziland # My Jax and the rolling hills of home. #Swaziland #myboy #dogsofinstagram #swazi #homeiswheretheheartis
Love my gorgeous new velvet jungle bird pillows. M Love my gorgeous new velvet jungle bird pillows. My cat definitely agrees. 

#homeiswheretheheartis #catsofinstagramcatlovers #home #velvetpillow #velvetdecor #jungledecor #colourfulhome
Lunch at my favourite sushi place, Haru. #sushi Lunch at my favourite sushi place, Haru. 

#sushi #palmy #palmerstonnorth #harujapaneserestaurant #yum
People can be so critical of tattoos. Hell, if I'm People can be so critical of tattoos. Hell, if I'm honest, even I've judged People with tattoos. How can they get "that" or "what were they thinking" because you know, human. But I tell you what, I've never felt more like myself. I love my tattoos. I love my body covered in tattoos. And yes, when I'm old, they'll be wrinkled and sunken and you know what, I don't care because it'll still be me. This collection of random ink on my body may not be your taste and that's absolutely and completely okay. You're allowed your opinion but I don't care. Because I look in the mirror and I love myself. More than when I was younger, had no grey hair, was skinny with legs for days. I never felt like me. This older, grey haired person covered in tattoos and rolls loves herself so go on, judge. Say what you like but I love me and that's enough for me. 
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

"One person's tattoo is nobody else's business" Ed Hardy 

#bodypositive #tattooedgirls #positivebodyimage #tattoostory 
#mybody #selflove #bodypositivity #bodypositivequotes #loveyourself #mybody #tattooedwomen #inkedlife #happylife
Sunday brunch. I ate this rabbit food while my chi Sunday brunch. I ate this rabbit food while my child ate the most magnificent waffles I've ever tasted. My salad was nice but it wasn't waffles. Am I thin yet? 

#brunch #brunchinwellington #wellingtoncentral #wellingtonnz #loretta #salad #notwaffles #amithinyet #healthyfood #healthylifestyle #betterchoices #eatwell #loseweight
Drove through Kimbolton and absolutely couldn't re Drove through Kimbolton and absolutely couldn't resist stopping to grab a photo of the most absurd protest ever. Hello kimbraton. 

#quirky #quirkynewzealand #kimbolton #kimbraton #newzealand #explorenz #travellocal #localexperience #bras #brasonafence

Copyright 2020 Jonelle Unfiltered | Tyranny of Pink