Anyways, this past year was huge for me, so I wanted to reflect on everything I've begun to learn in my 26th year, so I can carry into my 27th as I continue to learn, and grow!
1. Growth is s l o w sometimes. When you plant a watermelon seed, three months can go by and you still don't have the watermelon. You can learn many wonderful life lessons every day, but that doesn't mean you're going to be able to change the pathways in your brain overnight to apply them all. It takes time for them to become natural routines.
2. And that's okay! The inability to apply something right away doesn't mean you aren't growing. It just means, like riding a bike, it's going to take time until you get all the way around the block without falling sometimes. At first you fall several times, then you fall a few times, then less and less. The important part is your continued vigilance in getting back on the bike. Hence, lessons I've begun to learn this past year.
3. There isn't a person in the world you couldn't love if you could read their whole story. I learned this in the most unlikely of ways: watching Breaking Bad. Weird, right? I was so caught off guard by my ability to really feel for, and want the best for, the antagonist: Walter White. But, it's true. It takes on a whole new light when you actually see the whole story from their shoes. (And no, I do not condone meth).
4. Which leads in to, it's not our job anyways to decide if someone is worthy of our love, or not. I have a God for that. My job, is just to love them. Because, He created them. No questions asked.
5. The people that are the hardest to love need it the most. My children (students, I'm not secretly hoarding any in my house) continuously teach me that. And, most often, they show it in very unloving ways. Regardless, it's a defense mechanism, and a secret cry for love.
6. Children are one of the greatest sources from which we can learn. They call me the teacher, but little do they know exactly how much they're teaching me every. single. day.
7. Never turn down the exciting, fun, things you enjoyed as a child just because you're a grown-up. Or, because of the immature mess it could make. You'll never regret those on your death bed (at least I don't think...) Getting soaked in the rain storm, spinning on the playground, and having cookie dough fights are still some of the greatest sources of fun, and pleasure, if we just go for it. For crying out loud, you can take a shower and use some Lysol afterwards, and anyone that's judging you really just needs to join you that much more.
8. The more you love your decisions, the less you need others to love them. Sometimes, I can spend so much time getting caught up, maybe feeling defensive, about my own choices and others differing views. Many of those times, not all, I think it's been a secret insecurity of doubting my own choices. The more I choose to embrace, and accept, my choices, the less I feel threatened by what others think of them.
9. Things do not have to be perfect to be wonderful. Things has many meanings: my hair, the state of cleanliness in the kitchen, the sold out movie, the traffic jam to a missed event.
10. When things don't go as planned, there's often something even better, or just as enjoyable, that's waiting if we're able to look, and listen, for it with an open heart rather than dwelling on the fact things didn't go as planned.
11. The pursuit of excellence is gratifying, the pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic, and a terrible waste of time. -Edwin Bliss....<-that one has taken MANY years to accept, and is quite the long, slow process. But, acknowledgment is the first step ;).
12. Worrying will not stop any of the bad stuff you fear from happening, it will just stop you from enjoying the good things in front of you. <-another one, slow process. I repeat this one daily.
13. Most of the time, the things you worry about never even happen. Ask me how many things I feared over a certain, unspoken, time span in my life, and how many of them actually came to seed. Maybe 10% of them.
14. The bad things that do happen in our life? There is always, ALWAYS, something good that comes from it if we have an open heart. You may not see it right away, you may not see it directly after. But, there is always something good that can come from it; even if that good is simply growth. The largest mistake in my entire life led to eventually meeting the greatest gift of my entire life: my husband. I would never go back and change that mistake now simply because of that.
15. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you've made. Note the key word: mistakes. At the time, you did the best you knew how to do. You can only do better once you know better, and that's okay. If God can forgive you, you should forgive yourself also.
16. Never forget your purpose for doing something. When things are difficult, ask yourself your original purpose for that venture. Have you stayed on track? If not, how can you get back on track? That purpose will lead you back to your initial love and joy. Having no purpose is a far greater loss than temporarily losing your way.
17. The older I get, the more I am convinced I am definitely not the one running the show- and that is a good thing. Understanding, and believing, what I was created for has helped me find my passion and purpose in life, and that truly makes all the difference.
18. In order to love others, you need to love yourself. When you love yourself you're not being selfish, you're allowing your inner light and strengths to shine through in order to love and appreciate others fully.
19. Coffee is always a good idea. Unless you have esophagitis, in which case I recommend taking some black licorice (DGL tablets, not the candy) and then enjoying your coffee over ice ;).
20. Collect moments, not things. When I was little, I can still remember the flurry of butterflies whizzing around my stomach on the day of my birthday. The anticipation to open up my presents was almost unbearable! Now, don't get me wrong. I still love getting a present :). But, I've learned that when I look back on previous years, it's the moments I remember. Not the gifts. I can't tell you what I got for my 10th Birthday, I have no clue. But, I can tell you that I remember getting to celebrate at my cousins house with a bounce house and how much fun I had bouncing around with my family. I also have no clue what I got for Christmas two years ago. I definitely remember spending the afternoon with the love of my life at the Eiffel Tower. It's the moments we carry with us.
21. My mom gave me the advice growing up to try and go somewhere, or do something, I really wanted to go/do before I had children. Because, once you have kids it can sometimes be that much harder (not to say kids aren't a wonderful blessing, I adore children). However; I never forgot it, and I took her advice this year (after 3yrs of planning/saving) and booked our trip to Europe. I'm so glad, it's a decision I'll never regret with memories I'll never forget.
22. What's right for one person, isn't necessarily right for another. I learned this one earlier on, but it was a good refresher lesson this year. Just because everyone around you is hopping on the baby express train, it doesn't mean that you have to right away... or even should. It's okay to go at your own pace.
23. How people treat you is not necessarily a reflection of you, many times it's a reflection of themselves. And, the ones that treat you not so nicely when you weren't unkind? They probably need your kindness and love that much more. -That's a really tough one to remember many times.
24.There really isn't much point competing with others (unless it's a tennis match). Life is much more satisfying when you just focus on self growth. After all, don't we hope we all make it?
25. Kale (in my personal, humble opinion) does not taste good. I've tried as hard as I can to like it, but I'm just not feeling the hype. I'll stick with my dose of spinach.
26. 27 is not scary as I once thought...it's actually exciting. It's a miracle I've made it this far, and every Birthday is a reminder that God has given you the gift of another day :).
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