Blackbird Days
Blackbird Days
January Miles for Vermont Update
148 miles
If you’re following along—or just joining—Miles for Vermont, please consider donating $0.01–$1 per mile, split between the causes below.
Vermont Foodbank: https://fundraise.vtfoodbank.org/fundraiser/6850956
Vermont Public: https://www.vermontpublic.org
Life is complicated and messy no matter what decade you’re in, but there’s something about being in your 30s that feels uniquely revealing. Nothing’s simpler; you’ve just been stripped of illusions. You’re finally forced to see yourself honestly. Is it that life no longer feels “guaranteed”? (Although, was it ever?) Is it navigating parenthood and realizing you are, without question, the adult in the room? Or is it something else entirely?
Lately, I feel like I’m outgrowing old versions of myself. Not in a sad way. Not even in a nostalgic way. More like I’m finally discovering who I am when I’m not performing, proving, or shrinking to fit. And that realization is (admittedly scary), but also exhilarating.
Fresh out of Bridgerton episodes, I haphazardly queued up Episode 1 of the Eras Tour on the treadmill, looking for some motivation that I hoped would come from watching such an empowering woman my age, the catchy music, or a little of both. I’d already started jotting down thoughts for this January wrap-up, which is probably why, when Taylor Swift said, “Revisiting my albums felt like reading old diaries, thinking about all the different girls I was until I became the one I am now,” I felt it in my chest. That line resonated. Lately, I’ve been doing this, paging through my own chapters, noticing who I’ve been, who I tried to be, and who I’m finally becoming.
I dug into this same space at lunch with a close friend earlier this month, although I’m not sure I knew exactly what I was working to sort through at the time. Some of it was hard, most of it uncomfortable, but naming it out loud made it real. It’s incredibly empowering. I feel like I own the space around me in a way I never have before.
What surprised me most was realizing that so many of the things I thought I was navigating alone aren’t unique at all. The uncertainty. The becoming. They’re shared. Common. Quietly carried by so many of us. Maybe that’s why Taylor’s line landed so hard. Rereading old diaries, meeting all the girls you used to be, affirmed that so many of us are sorting through our own chapters, too.
If any of this resonates, consider this a gentle invitation to reach out. Sometimes the smallest step is the bravest one. Find someone you trust. Say the thing out loud. Share where you are, not where you think you’re supposed to be. Now more than ever, we need community. We need to know we’re not so alone. I’m endlessly grateful for my village, and in the darkness of January, connection feels essential, especially in times like these.
Connect. Reflect. Stay open. Grow.
Kasandra Reid is an Investment Adviser Representative of Greenhill Financial Partners, LLC. Greenhill Financial Partners, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser located in Vermont. This material is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Advisory services are offered only to clients or prospective clients where Greenhill Financial Partners, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Vermont Foodbank, Vermont Public, Taylor Swift, TAS Rights Management, Jared Benjamin, or any related organizations or rights holders. References to charitable organizations and music are for informational purposes only and do not represent an endorsement or a solicitation; we receive no compensation from any organizations or artists referenced. Trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Donation links are provided for convenience only.
