My Birthday Wish

Last week I turned 59—my final year in my 50s! Up until now, I dreaded my birthday. Being in the middle of summer, it always meant my friends were away and celebrations were scarce. The main highlight was the angel food cake with lemon frosting my mom used to make. Eventually, though, that tradition transitioned into peach pie.

This year was different. My sister came to visit for the whole birthday week. We stayed up until midnight talking every night, we shared dinners with my kids, enjoyed a meal at Blackbird, took walks, hiked Triple Tree and the M, and even went horseback riding at Wide Sky. On my birthday, my daughter Isabel surprised me with a homemade peach pie adorned with a beautiful basket weave top. The nostalgia was heartwarming, and celebrating with my loved ones made it all the more special. It embodied my Tomato Girl Summer theme—slowing down to savor the essence of summer. To me, that means simple pleasures: good food, good company, and being present in those fleeting summer moments.

Here in Montana, we also have a term for this time of year—“Angry August.” Initially, it was used to describe the burnout felt by those in the service industry towards the end of summer. Now, it’s a term everyone uses to encapsulate the stress and challenges that seem to pile up. I've noticed this strain affecting those around me, adding a layer of tension to an otherwise lovely season.

So here's my birthday wish...

What if we changed the narrative? What if we transformed "Angry August" into "Kind August"? What if we made an effort to sprinkle kindness wherever we go, to smile and engage with one another? Imagine the impact if we took these remaining summer days to be exceptionally kind to each other—smiling, saying hello, and performing small acts of kindness. And most importantly, being kind to ourselves, and committing to doing something small every day that brings us joy.

I believe we've lost so much of our ability to connect genuinely. So for my birthday wish, I want to encourage you to look up from the phones. To chat with the person next to you when you’re next in line at the grocery store or bank. To smile at a stranger when you’re walking down the street. And whenever possible, let's support one another, especially women looking out for each other.