Six Things I've Learned in Twenty-Six Years

Today is my birthday. I am 26 years old. I don't consider myself wise at all, and I still consider myself quite young. I still have so much to learn and even more growing up to do, but I've also learned so much and grown up so much in 26 years. I shake me head at the things I thought I knew just 5 years ago. It's amazing how much you learn and grow up once you become a parent. So I was thinking last night about the things I have learned in my 26 short years and I thought I'd share them with you. 

1. Family is Everything. And family doesn't necessarily mean blood. But whoever your family is they are everything. They will always be what's most important. They will always be the ones who piss you off the most and who love you the most. Spend time with family, appreciate them, love them. Because they are everything. 

2. Worrying what other people think doesn't do you any good. I used to let what other people think consume me. I would make decisions based on what other people think. I would form opinions based on what other people think. I would act a certain way because I was worried about what other people would think if I acted differently. This is something that I've come to realize just this past year-- Worrying what other people think does a person much more harm than good. You are you and you make decisions that are best for you. What other people think about those decisions is not important. If you want to dress a certain way or listen to certain music or feed your baby formula instead of breast milk then you do that and don't worry about what other people think. In the end they don't matter. 

I read something super cool this morning that goes along with this: Don't worry about people who aren't going to cry at your funeral. All I can say to that is Amen! 

3. True happiness isn't about things, it's about you. If you surround yourself with people you love and you have the right perspective you will be happy. Things will go wrong, yes, and things will get tough. But it's during those times that you have to look at life and remember that the tough times are not going to last forever, remember the people who love you, and remember the blessings you do have. That is when true happiness comes. 

4. Don't let your mistakes and problems define you. Learn from them and move forward. Our greatest blessings can sometimes be our biggest mistakes. But only if we learn from them. Don't be afraid or too proud to admit when you make mistakes. Seek forgiveness for those mistakes, learn from them and move one. Don't dwell in guilt or shame. Use those mistakes to become a better person. 

5. Look at the big picture. This is something I've learned in just this past year also. I always used to get so upset about things happening now or not going right this very day. But in reality those things wouldn't even matter when looking at my life and the big picture of it all. When you start to get upset about something or worry about something think to yourself, " is this going to matter in a  year?". Most of the time it won't. So take a deep breath and calm yourself down and look at the big picture. That problem that you were just freaking out about won't seem so big and bad anymore. 

6. You are beautiful, there is no other you. There was never another you in the past and there never will be another you in the future. So embrace who you are and love yourself. Accept that you will make mistakes and you are not perfect. There are things you wish you could change and ways you wish you looked, but you are beautiful just the way God made you and you should always remember that. Loving yourself creates a confidence and happiness that is indescribable. Hold that head high and be proud to be who you are!