I'm 39 and unmarried, but I proudly send out holiday cards every year to celebrate all I've accomplished

Since I was a child, receiving holiday cards has been one of my favorite parts of December.

I love seeing the snapshots families choose to represent their year and reading the little updates that I don't get on social media.

When I was in my 20s, I wanted to start sending my own, but I felt I had to wait for traditional milestones — like getting married and having kids — before it would feel "appropriate."

In my mind, holiday cards seemed like a privilege reserved for conventional lives.

As the years went by, I continued to see stories about unmarried, single, or child-free women sending holiday cards that poked fun at their status. They'd pose with sad faces and wine bottles or include clever quips about being alone once again.

Every year, without fail, someone would send me these articles as if I could relate, but I couldn't. To each their own, of course, but I never saw my life as something to be made fun of, and I definitely didn't feel sorry for myself.

So, I created a new holiday card tradition — one that celebrates my beautiful and full life.

I realized I was proud of my life and wanted to share that pride with friends and family

I didn't know if or when I would have a family of my own, and didn't want that to stop me from celebrating my year with others. Emily Hart

As I neared 30, I started doing a lot of solo traveling and set the goal of visiting all 63 major US national parks on my own by the time I turned 40.

Though I was posting some of my trips on social media, I also wanted to share them more personally with my friends and family.

Finally, I decided to print a holiday card featuring a photo from a summer trip I took to Canada — a simple shot of my backpack overlooking the mountains of Banff National Park.

I hesitated for a while before mailing them, worried that friends and family might find it narcissistic or odd to receive a card with only me in it.

However, many who received the card reached out to express their love for the photo and how happy they were to get it in the mail.

My card has become a way to celebrate the life I've built

I've kept the tradition going ever since — for nearly 10 years now, through my entire 30s, I've sent a card filled with my favorite photos from the year's solo adventures.

Friends and family often ask well in advance if they're still on my mailing list and tell me how much they look forward to receiving them.

For me, sharing these more personal photos — the ones I cherish most — in a tangible, intimate way has become a highlight of the season.

Creating the cards each year makes me feel empowered, proud of my accomplishments, and confident in the life I've chosen.

More than anything, it's a reminder that holiday cards can celebrate joy, connection, and the version of life you're proud to live — however unconventional it may be.

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