on control, loss, and learning to let things be: birthday reflections

<p>Yesterday I turned 42.</p><p>I love birthdays. Not the celebrating necessarily - that&#39;s complicated. But the threshold of it. The closing out of one year and stepping into a new one. A personal new year that isn&#39;t tied to a collective restart.</p><p>41 was an incredibly difficult year for me. It didn&#39;t let up. One thing after another, after another, for the entire year.</p><p>And somewhere in the midst of it all, I learned something about non-attachment. About letting go. About allowing things to move through me instead of gripping so tightly to outcomes I can&#39;t control.</p><p>This is my birthday reflection - on a hard year, on what I&#39;m learning about control and loss, and on stepping through the threshold into 42.</p><p>This is also the final episode of 2025. I&#39;m taking the next few weeks off to be with my family. I&#39;ll see you in 2026.</p><p><strong>Oracle Card Readings:</strong>Choose from a 3 or 13 card reading. Starting at $24. <a href="https://www.intuitive-soulutions.com/cart/244819-Oracle-Reading" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Book your reading here.</a></p><p><strong>Upcoming Events:</strong><em>December 21,</em> 3pm at Groundswell Yoga</p><p>Sacred Space Annapolis Women&#39;s Circle <a href="https://momence.com/l/5ehz5o0D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Gather in Community</a></p><p><em>January 1,</em> 1:30pm at Groundswell Yoga</p><p>Vision Board Journey <a href="https://momence.com/l/J1hRDnEW" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Journey with me</a></p><p>Follow me on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/iamtinamelendez/⁠" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">@iamtinamelendez</a> </p><p>Come sit with me in meditation. See my <a href="https://www.intuitive-soulutions.com/events" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">upcoming events</a></p><p>Join my mailing list: <a href="https://www.intuitive-soulutions.com/shadow-meditation">https://www.intuitive-soulutions.com/shadow-meditation</a></p><p>Stock Media provided by <a href="⁠https://www.pond5.com/?ref=signup647" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">HotZtudio</a> / Pond5 </p>