My 25th year.

My Nana always told me to not make any huge decisions until I was 25. Today commences the beginning of my twenty-fifth year. (I’m 24 today…just making sure we’re on the same page!) I know that it is impossible for me to know now what I currently do not know until I know it…but I feel like I’ve learned a whole lot in the past year of my life. A lot. Let’s just say that…I may be a little older, but I’m a lot wiser. 

1. I must receive love to give love. 

(I also learned this is much harder than I was previously aware.)

2. It really is true what people say…

3. Moments of pain, weakness, chaos, and confusion are my moments of growth. 

They’re not to be feared but learned from. They’re not always fun, but I am learning.

4. This year has shown me that friends are “for a reason, a season, or for life” (thanks, Cheryl). And those good, life friends…well, they’re hard to come by but they know how to love really well.

5. Laugh…I’ve been healed more times than I can count by laughter

…anger never did such a thing for me.

6. Loving myself is so important. 

If I can’t/don’t/won’t love me, why would I expect anyone else too?

7. I am worthy.

8. It’s silly to sweat the little things.

9. The people who truly love me don’t care what my house looks like.

10. People are who they are…and that’s okay. 

Some will change. 

Some will not. 

The beauty is in recognizing the difference.

11. Hope is my best friend…and that doesn’t make me delusional. Just hopeful.

12. Self-awareness comes with a huge-pain-in-the-butt-cost: change and hard work…and an even bigger-excruciatingly-wonderful-prize: new life, new hope, new beginnings.

13. God is who He says He is. 

The Good Shepherd. The Loving Father. The Warrior. The Master Conductor and Creator. 

And He really is control.

14. So I can rest…and let Him do all the work.

15. Living #14 out…is a minute-to-minute surrender.

16. (#13-15)…that’s the good life.

17. Grace…true grace…is an incredible, crazy, overwhelming gift. (That I need often.)

18. Family is not to be disowned…they just shouldn’t be.

19. Doing things that I do not love when I could be doing what I do love is a crazy choice. 

Every single time.

20. Chasing dreams (even impractical ones) is how it’s meant to be.

21. Friends are worth it…whatever “it” may be.

22. Rest is important.

23. Taking care of me physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually is important. No one else can do it for me.

24. Love…Relationships. Life. Forgiveness. Joy. Happiness. Progress. Forward motion. (Slow motion). It all begins and ends with love.

25. (because I need one to grow old…) Africa taught me all these lessons.

I’m off to snuggle with some pooches whose warm, cuddly bodies are begging to be cuddled because it’s my birthday and I can. 😉

Happy Friday! Hope you enjoy my day of birth as much as I do! 

xxxoo, E