Turning 35 made me realize something: you don’t need the traditional milestones to be proud of your life.
In this birthday episode, I’m bragging on myself — petty and popping.
If you’ve ever felt behind, in-between, or unsure if you’re doing life “right”… this one is for you.
This one is for the girl who needs to brag on herself a little more.
The thirty-something who’s tired of milestones being used as a measuring stick.
The millennial who’s learning: two things can be true… and I’m still that girl.
In this birthday episode, I’m not doing the usual deep dive. I’m doing a brag session.
In this episode, we get into:
• Why I’m proud I’m prompt (and why being late every time isn’t cute)
• Being okay in silence + not needing constant stimulation
• The freedom of not having the “traditional” milestones (house, marriage, kids) and not feeling less fulfilled
• Starting over, starting from scratch, starting in the middle of chaos… and still showing up
• My hygiene routine (yes, it’s petty… and yes, I smell good 😭)
• My relationship with God: deepened discernment + no longer trying to live without Him
• Having refined taste in people, places, and experiences
• Being a good friend: safe, nonjudgmental, and built for real conversation
• “No longer negotiating with my calling” + why hearing isn’t enough… it’s time to move
A few thoughts from my thirties…
Timestamp Breakdown
00:00 — Brag session rules + “She’s 35. She has arrived.”
02:10 — Golden birthday energy + why we’re not doing the deep reflective thing today
04:40 — Petty flex: I’m prompt, and I’m proud
07:10 — Silence, nervous systems, and not needing constant stimulation
10:30 — Not married, not a homeowner, no kids… and not feeling less than
14:10 — Starting over without reverting back to the “mundane” plan
16:30 — Petty but important: hygiene routine + “you’ll never say I was stink”
19:20 — My relationship with God + the 33-year-old resurrection year
23:40 — Community break: Our Inner Thoughts (keep the convo going)
26:10 — Taste, “outside,” and not living life in isolation
29:30 — I’m a really good friend (and what safe friendship actually looks like)
33:10 — “No longer negotiating with my calling” + James 1:22
36:10 — Face card, skills, and thanking the 2016 YouTube girlies
38:40 — Saying the quiet part out loud: loneliness + still being that girl
44:00 — The duality: low days don’t cancel your identity
47:20 — Closing: brag on yourself + peace in the process of figuring it out
Resources + Links
Download the episode companion resource:
I started a resource library for y’all. After each episode, I drop a Kala-coded companion guide so the conversation doesn’t end when the episode ends.
Download here:
https://spring-basil-85806.myflodesk.com/e85zoionw0
Join my private community
https://kalariggins.substack.com/subscribe
Our Inner Thoughts is a space to keep the conversation going with:
• Monthly Group Thoughts (live virtual discussions)
• Inside My Mind Q&A sessions (ask me anything — creativity, strategy, life, love, becoming)
Question for you…
What’s one petty thing and one popping thing you’re proud of in this season?
Drop yours in the comments — and if you’re my friend, go ahead and “amen” me too. 😭
Let’s stay connected
Socials: @KalaRiggins
Website: https://kalariggins.com/
Contact: [email protected]
About Me
I’m Kala — host, content creator, and storyteller.
I create content and conversations that inspire women to stop hiding, stop apologizing, and show up as their full selves.
Over here, it’s about thoughts and conversations that help you return to yourself — your voice, your clarity, and what actually matters.
