I'm writing this T-minus two days from my 23rd birthday, which means that by the time this is probably published my birthday would've already passed. Why am I taking time to inform you all of this? Well, because, it's never TOO late to send belated birthday gifts….

*Comment below, if interested in my cash app info!

No but seriously as I've been preparing to close out the 22nd chapter of my life, I've been considering the ways in which I take care of myself as well as the ways that I allow others to do the same.

What have I concluded?

Well, that there's never a bad time to treat yourself and allow others to lavish love on you as well.

Again, I repeat: seriously "there is never a bad time to TREAT yourself and allow others to lavish some love on you as well."

I don't know about each of you, but sometimes I can become overwhelmed by all of the self-care talk that inundated my social media platforms. Which is ironic within itself because, I PRIDE myself on speaking about wellness, mindfulness, self-love, acceptance and encouragement — however, I think the thought of it alone has become overwhelming because even in my self-care I've become too regimented.

I've allotted myself "X" amount of time to squeeze in a face mask once or twice a week. Just enough time to go to the gym and when I choose to not go, I'm kicking myself in the face for the rest of the day (as I'm also stuffing my face with whatever sweets I can find. Just keeping it 100 percent honest, here.)

I give myself the remaining 5 hours of my day to try to rush into whatever activity that I wanted to enjoy and by the end of the week, I'm feeling: exhausted, bitter and miserable.

Why?

Because, there's no space in my life that's left for spontaneity, which in my opinion is pathetic and dangerous. I think that I've become too ambitious and driven by the successes that I see that I've become too calculated.

*I know that this is starting to err on the side of a personal rant. I know, I know, but just stick with me here. I'm going somewhere.*

While having a night of "self-care" last week I watched a documented story of a chef and her journey in shamelessly indulging into whatever dessert her sweet tooth could handle. Intrigued, I watched how she chose to move to NYC and pursue culinary school despite her family's wishes to only revolutionize the way that consumers, aesthetically prefer their cakes.

Again, where am I going with this? Well, as I was shamefully eating my skinny popcorn and feeling the brunt of guilt because I had decided to "catch up" on my shows all in one night instead of responsible rationing each out throughout the week, I realized that sometimes (many times) I'm far too calculated.

Sometimes (many times) I'm far too deep into my introspective, future planning, wild visionary self that I forget that I'm still in my early twenties and have A LOT to unintentionally discover. Some good, and probably a lot of bad but still all treasures that I'm zipping passed because I've limited my self-exploration to a 20-minute face mask.

When you consider it, as I have... I hope that you too realize that this type of lifestyle just isn't healthy and while I'm not saying throw all judgment and responsibility out of the window (this article is suggesting far from that).

What I am saying is that it's important to leave some space for spontaneity, to let go of some the regimented and LET IT FLY! Whatever, that looks like for you… just trust yourself to enjoy the journey and bounce back when needed to.

Trust yourself, to enjoy this life for more reasons than just another birthday. Trust yourself, to enjoy this life because it's simply yours to enjoy.