Hello, October: I’m Walking Into This Month Differently

Hello, October.

I don't really know what you have planned for me, but I guess that's part of the fun.

Usually when a new month comes around, we start making all these declarations.

This is MY month.

New month, new me.

I'm about to lock in.

And listen… I love a fresh start just as much as anybody else. 😂

But this October, I'm walking into the month a little differently.

I'm not asking October to completely change my life.

I'm not coming into it with a list of 72 things that HAVE to happen before November.

I'm not putting unnecessary pressure on myself to have everything figured out.

For once, I'm just saying:

I'm here. I'm ready. Let's see what happens.

September Was a Big One

September will always be special to me because it's my birthday month, but this one felt different.

I turned 30.

THIRTY, y'all.

I still don't know exactly how we got here because I'm pretty sure I was just in high school about five minutes ago.

But apparently the calendar disagrees.

Turning 30 has made me think about life differently—not because I woke up on my birthday suddenly having all the answers. Trust me, I did not.

If anything, I think I've become more comfortable admitting that I don't have all the answers.

And that's okay.

When I was younger, I thought 30-year-old TJ would have everything perfectly mapped out.

Career.

Love.

Money.

Home.

Future.

Everything.

Baby… younger TJ was ambitious. 😂

The reality is that I'm entering my 30s still dreaming, still building, still changing my mind, still figuring some things out, and still discovering new parts of myself.

And surprisingly?

I'm okay with that.

Life Can Change FAST

If the last few years have taught me anything, it's that life does not care about the little timeline you've created in your head.

I've gone from working in education to working aboard cruise ships.

I've gone from classrooms and school hallways to microphones, stages, guests from around the world, and waking up in completely different countries.

I've met people who started as strangers and became family.

I've said goodbye to people I thought would always be around.

I've had opportunities I never saw coming.

I've experienced moments that made me ask, "How is this actually my life?"

And I've also experienced moments that forced me to stop, reevaluate everything, and figure out what came next.

That's life.

Sometimes you're standing on a stage thinking, THIS is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

And sometimes you're sitting at home thinking, Okay…so what are we doing now?

Both versions count.

I'm Learning Not to Rush the Next Chapter

This might be one of the biggest things I'm carrying into October.

I don't have to rush.

That's difficult for me because when I want something, I want to GO.

I want the plan.

I want the next opportunity.

I want to know what's happening.

I want to know when it's happening.

And preferably, I'd like a detailed itinerary with times, locations, and confirmation numbers.

Thank you very much. 😂

But life doesn't always work like that.

Sometimes you're in between chapters.

The last chapter has ended, but the next one hasn't fully started yet.

And instead of constantly asking, "What's next?" maybe there's something to learn from where I am right now.

I'm still creating.

I'm still writing.

I'm still cooking.

I'm still dreaming.

I'm still building TJM Studios.

I'm still working toward my goals in entertainment and cruising.

I'm still finding new ways to tell stories through Yup! It's TJ Mitchell.

And most importantly, I'm still living.

Maybe everything doesn't need to happen immediately.

So What Do I Want From October?

Honestly?

Good people.

Good energy.

New opportunities.

A few adventures.

Some GREAT food.

More reasons to laugh until my stomach hurts.

Creative ideas that randomly hit me at 2:00 in the morning.

More moments where I stop and realize, "Man…life is actually pretty cool."

And, of course, some stories worth telling.

Because y'all already know I'm going to tell them. 😂

But I'm also leaving room for the unexpected.

That's new for me.

I don't know exactly what October is going to bring.

Maybe something I've been waiting for finally happens.

Maybe something completely unexpected happens.

Maybe it's a quiet month that gives me time to reset.

Maybe I'll meet someone who changes my life.

Maybe I'll discover a new dream.

Maybe I'll simply have a really good month.

I don't know.

And for once, I don't think I need to.

Here's to October

I'm walking into this month grateful to be here.

Thirty years of life.

Thirty years of stories.

Thirty years of becoming TJ.

And there is still so much more I want to experience.

More countries I want to see.

More stages I want to stand on.

More food I want to cook.

More content I want to create.

More people I want to meet.

More stories I want to tell.

More life I want to LIVE.

So, October…

I'm not asking you to be perfect.

Just give me the moments I'm supposed to have, the lessons I'm supposed to learn, the people I'm supposed to meet, and the opportunities I'm supposed to recognize.

Whatever you've got waiting for me…

I'm ready.

And to anybody reading this who's also walking into a season where you don't completely know what's next:

Maybe we don't need to have it all figured out.

Maybe we just need to keep showing up.

We'll figure out the rest along the way.

Until next week,

TJ

Yup! It's TJ Mitchell.

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Let's talk: What's ONE thing you want October to bring into your life? Leave it in the comments—I want to hear it.