I will be turning 38 this Friday, September 18th, 2015. Updated: I am turing 39 and I am updating my list from one year ago.
For some reason I keep forgetting what my actual age is, maybe because I am slowly but quickly approaching 40... Don't get me wrong 40 is a great age. I heard it is the age where you just don't care about what other people think and you do you. I thought I had hit that in my mid thirties, boy was I wrong.
As a child I never thought about being close to 40 years old. Never understood the feeling adult women get when that number is around the corner. Have you done what you thought you would? Do you feel like life is going in the direction you want? These are some of questions we might ask ourselves.
So far, I have live in four states, worked in small, and large corporate fashion companies. I have transitioned to the public education sector and I am a small business owner. I have lived by myself holding my own and have learned to live with the opposite sex (my husband) for
11 12 of those years. I have had my hair relaxed, cut, then became natural to do that process all over again. I have crawled, walked then ran in the race called life. I have experienced many things and know that my journey is far from done.
I am very persistent and with my Christian faith this has helped me to to move forward. I am blessed to see each and every day and have learned a lot along the way. I wanted to share some of these insights and hope they will aspire you.
Not in any particular order, they are all equally important.
1.
Don't dwell on your past. It is in the past for a reason. Learn from it and move on.
2.
Try to smile everyday. Not only will it help you through a tough day it will help
someone else. We are connected to everyone and everything around us. Be a light.
3.
Forgive. When you don't that un forgiveness is like a monkey on your back. It will weigh you down and taunt you.
4.
Don't go into debt... any kind of debt. Pay it off quickly and don't rely on credit cards.
5.
Get life insurance. You're an adult, do this now.
6.
Lift others up. The world around us can be mean, don't join in.
7.
Dole out compliments. This is will not only help your spirit but once again it will uplift others.
8.
Read your bible (or a book that helps you to connect spiritually). Being connected bring a sense of inner peace to both mind and spirit. This also allows your inner values to guide you in how you interact with the world around you.
9.
Create. Find your inner artist. You may not be able to draw or paint but find what allows you to freely express yourself.
10.
Stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. They are broke and you will be too. (see #4)
11.
Put your mask away. Accept who you are and be yourself to the fullest. ( I am introvert living in an extrovert world. Hard to change that)
12.
Be opinionated, but think before you speak. Everything you are thinking and feeling doesn't need to be said out loud.
13.
Keep your eyes and heart open. Love come in different shapes and forms.
14.
Honor your parents. (this might be very hard for many but it goes with #3) Even if you don't think your parents deserve it find away to do this by set boundaries, visiting briefly or limit contact. Do what you can. Be the bigger person, be civil and kind in your dealing with them. Let go of unrealistic expectations so you don’t set yourselves up for continued disappointment and heartache.
15.
Be accountable for your actions. Only children blame others for their faults.
16.
Naps are good.
17.
Good friends are priceless. As I learned in girl scouts - Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.
18.
Learn your history. I am am firm believer in learning things for yourself. You can't rely on teachers, parents, friends to educate you.
19.
Everyone is not going to like you and it's okay.
20.
Know your wealth. We are all made in the creators image. We bring different things to the table. Love your self first. Don't wait for someone to come along to love you.
21.
Youth and physical beauty will always fade. Even when we have a world of injections, make overs, and plastic surgery, beauty will still wither and fade away. Age gracefully.
22.
Mind your manners. "Please","Thank You"," You're Welcome" will take you a long way and they sound nice.
23.
Keep dreaming! You're never too old to dream and start something new.
24.
Words are the blossoms, action the fruit. Always follow through, be a person of action.
25.
Don't look for change, be the change. It starts with you.
26.
Look for patterns. In yourself and in others. Patterns are either red flags or green flags. This is help you to know if you should proceed with caution or with full force.
27.
Be open for opportunities. They come in different forms, don't limit yourself.
28.
Step back and kiss yourself. When you do something positive give yourself a chance to celebrate. ( imagine James Brown)
29.
K.I.S.S. Keep it Simple Stupid. Try not to over-think, over-analyze, over calculate, over... anything.
30.
Be the Little Engine that could, and if you can't it's alright.
31.
Learn to Laugh. Laughter heals the soul.
32.
Show people appreciation. Appreciation is a form of reciprocating love.
33.
Be aware of the seasons in your life. Life is like seasons - winter, spring, summer and fall. Winter things calm down go into hibernation, spring renews and brings forth newness, summer creates passion, and fall is time to take stock and to itemize your blessings.
34.
Life isn't fair. It just isn't and that is okay.
35.
Travel near and far. Experience the beauty of world.
36.
Don't confuse your path with your destination. Just because you might be in the mist of a storm doesn't mean sunshine isn't headed your way.
37.
Take care of your body so it won't fail you. Do what you can to stay active and eat well.
38.
Learn to let things you can not control go. This goes for people, jobs, relationships, etc.... The only thing you can control is yourself.
39.
Join in a cause. Don't just stand around telling other people what they are doing wrong do something to help fix it. #blacklivesmatter
