31 Birthday Wishes Before Residency!

It’s by BIRTHDAAAAAAAY!! Gosh, I can’t even believe 31 is already here staring me in the face. 7-year-old Anya would have thought this age was extremely old…present day Anya knows I’ve just begun! This is a pivotal year for me. Why? Because at the age of 31, I will finally complete my final lap of school and get👏🏾that 👏🏾MD!🙌🏾 Can’t even begin to explain what that means or the significance of this time in my life (but I will later!) For now, I’m focused on living my BEST LIIIIIIIFE before I start residency when I, again, will be owned by the hospital. Here’s what I’m thinking:

1.Really take the time to explore even more of Atlanta. By the time I leave this city (if that day ever comes), I want to be an expert on what to do, where to be, and who to see!

2. Travel to Europe

3. Establish my YouTube channel

4. Collaborate with at least 10 more brands!

5. Attend Fashion Week

6. Go on another mission trip

7. Take a Soul Cycle class. It’s coming to Ponce City Market this year!

8. Establish a better morning routine with God

9. Pay off my immediate debt – almost done with my car note!

10. Write the first chapter of my book – it’s gonna be a page turner, y’all!

11. Publish my 4^thresearch article

12. Create more travel content for my blog – Charleston, New Orleans, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard

13. Speaking of New Orleans, attend Essence Fest!!!

14. Finish growing my hair back to waist length

15. Really commit to clean eating during the week and only ONE cheat day per 7 days. Fix it Jesus.

16. Read at least one leisure book (yes, one. All ya girl does now is read…medical books) I really want to get to Elaine Welteroth’s More Than Enough

17. Log a few more trips to NYC, of course!

18. Pick a day to stay in bed…and actually stay in bed

19. Be more intentional about practicing forgiveness

20. Get back active with my dance ministry—thank y’all for being patient with me. Years 2 and 3 of med school are just so much!

21. Create more memories with my family

22. Spend more time with my bestie

23. Reduce my amount of self-doubt

24. Pass my board exams—more of a requirement lol

25. RunJog the Beltline

26. Be kind even to those who don’t deserve it—not friends, but kind, nonetheless

27. Explore more of Virginia Highlands and find my potential home

28. Go to a local Saturday Farmer’s Market – I think Ponce City Market has some!

29. Buy a stranger’s coffee

30. Expand the Surgery And The City empire!!!

31. Be found by Love.

I really like this list, folks! I’ll be checking it from time to time to watch my progress. Gonna spend the day NOT studying! Just for the day lol. And…there’s a Kate Spade birthday bag with my name on it! Gonna send a pic to my family and see what happens. ha! Cheers to another year!🍾🎊

p.s. shot this look at Shops of Buckhead!

Kate Spade Wish List:

xoxo,

Anya

Photos by Tina Smith