Okay y’all… let’s talk about something real for a minute. 💬

I’m not 25 anymore. 😅

I feel like I am—in my head, I swear I’m still that version of me who can do all the things 💪, crush a workout 🏋️‍♀️, and bounce back like a rubber band 🌀. But then I try to hop out of bed 🛏️ and my neck, back, and knees are like, “Girl, sit down.” 😩🦴

I’ll be 38 in May 🎉. And this is such a weird in-between season of life for me. Like, I still want to feel strong 💥, look good 💁‍♀️, and do all the things I used to—but my body is out here sending me little love notes 💌 in the form of stiffness, soreness, and snapping sounds. Rude. 😤

Back in my late 20s and early 30s, I was on it. Healthy eating? 🥗 Check. Exercise routine? On point. I was an avid runner 🏃‍♀️—I’ve run SIX half-marathons 🏅. I loved it. It was my therapy 🧠🫶.

But then… I got a pacemaker. ❤️‍🩹

And something in my mind shifted. You’d think having heart issues would push me more into cardio 🫀, right? Like, “Yay! Let’s strengthen the heart!” Nope. My brain was like, “Let’s just chill. Maybe forever.” 😬🛋️

Fast forward to now—37, stiff, sore, and a little annoyed about it. 😒 But instead of sulking, I decided to do something about it. 🙌

Step 1: Buy cute running shoes. 👟✨

Because obviously, you have to look good to feel good 😎. I grabbed a fresh pair of Brooks and I’m obsessed already 💖.

Step 2: Start moving again. 🚶‍♀️🧘‍♀️

I’ve been hitting up some fitness classes at the rec center 🏋️. And let me tell you—my first class humbled me 😅. I didn’t even make it the full hour ⏳, and I was sore for 3-4 days 🥴. But like… a good sore. The kind that says, “Hey, we’re alive!” ✨

But the motivation isn’t just about looking cute or feeling better (though that’s a big part of it) 😉. It also ties into our photography business 📸.

Remember that pro lighting system we invested in? Yeah, turns out it’s not light at all 😵‍💫. And guess who’s job it is to haul it around and make sure every client has the perfect glow? ✨ This girl 🙋‍♀️.

Oh—and we’re shooting our first wedding together in May! 💒📷

The lenses we’ll be using are HEAVY . I’m talking “don’t skip arm day” kind of heavy 💪. So now I’ve got new fitness goals:

• Be strong enough to carry heavy gear for hours 🏋️‍♀️
• Don’t drop thousands of dollars’ worth of camera equipment 💸
• Don’t throw out my back before the first dance 💃

So if you’re a photographer:

📷 What’s the heaviest lens you own?

⏱️ And what’s the longest you’ve had to carry it during a shoot?

I need to mentally prepare myself 🧠😆.

Here’s to embracing 38 🎂, getting stronger (again) 💪, and remembering that we’re still the same powerful, capable women—just with a little more stretching required 🧎‍♀️✨.

Ashley & Jenay 💛 | Wild Roots Photography