23 Things I’ve Learned in 23 Years
I thought for my birthday this year, I would share with you a few staple items I've learned throughout my 23 years....and mainly throughout my last 10 haha. I'm not an expert in any of these, but I'm trying to apply them every single day!
Laugh it off - life is more fun when you can laugh about it! Laugh at yourself, laugh when things don't go your way, laugh when misfortune happens...don't take life too seriously.
Take care of your body - I've started the change the way I look at food and working out in a way that it is meant to glorify God. I'm not saying to only eat salads from here on out, but to fuel your body well 80% of the time. You only get one!
Take risks - get out of your comfort zone and be spontaneous. We weren't built to live in comfort!
If you don't ask you won't receive. Simple as that.
Be your own advocate. No one will care about your dreams and goals as much as you, so believe in yourself and your abilities and go make it happen.
Family will always be there - invest in them.
You will never regret saving money.
You will survive if you go to an event or somewhere by yourself! Growing up my mom always made me go to summer camps by myself. I had to learn how to make friends on the bus ride there, and in my cabin every single year. This has changed my life! It taught me to be comfortable with myself and to extend a hand to others even when I don't know them.
God's plan is going to look different than your own. When I mean different, I mean like BIPOLAR opposite haha. So, don't be surprised when your plans go to shambles!
You'll survive if you don't get a dog right after you graduate or get married. Everyone will pressure you and ask you when you're getting a pet, but if you're not doing it for the right reasons or if it doesn't make sense financially/time wise then don't make the commitment. Right now it doesn't make sense for Adam and I to get a dog and it would be too complicated because we are out of town so much! One day we will, but I'm letting you know that no pet is going to fill the gap in your life - only God can do that!
How your room/home looks is a reflection of your life. If your home is messy, your heart/mind/life will be too. This is more of an opinion, rather than a fact, but it reigns true in my life. If my house is a mess, I am more disorganized in other areas of my life too.
Alone time is good for your soul. It's okay to say no to events and dinners and coffee. Sometimes you just need to rest!
Fitness is an outlet, not a punishment. Don't punish yourself for eating those fries or ice cream by running for 30 min at 10:00PM. Wake up and start again the next day.
Tearing others down does not build you up. Think about where your judgement is coming from, it's most likely from your own insecurities in one way or another. If you don't like how someone is living their life, or if you don't like that they are doing better than you in one area, then change something about what you're doing rather than bring someone down with you.
Find the root of the cause, not the side effect. A lot of times we are treating the symptom to our problems. Find the root of your jealousy, anger, bad eating habits, impatience, fear, etc. A lot of times it will show you what's in your heart that needs to be changed.
Hold loosely to the material things in life. They are not yours to have. Your money, home, clothes, phone, etc could all be taken away in an instant. Then what? Be grateful for what you have, but don't idolize it.
Life is short, eat the freaking dessert!
If you're in a funk, get your nails done. It works wonders haha
You won't know until you try it. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new! Go to a new restaurant, order something different, visit a new city - it may just become your new fav.
Speak life into others and to yourself. Thoughts become words, words become actions and actions become habits. Speak positivity!
You'll never regret time spent investing and serving others..
In order to have friends, you have to be a friend. This is reigned true in my life. Everyone wants to be the one invited, but never wants to invite. That's not how it works people - text your classmate to get coffee, ask that girl in your small group to get your nails done together, invite a group to go watch a sporting event together. It's amazing that all of a sudden, you will have friends haha.
Jesus is all you need. He is enough. If you never get another thing in life, or if you never achieve another thing Jesus is enough. He will supply your every need exactly when you need it, and He longs for you to know Him and put Him first in your life.
