So, I believe 29 has been a pretty good year filled with some good lessons...
Lesson 1 - Cherish the time with your kids and partner. I've learned so much from my son. It's amazing what you can learn from your kids if you look at the world from a child's eye.
Lesson 2 - I asked a guy out...not really a fan of doing that so I'll stick to what I know and that is letting a man ask me out
Lesson 3 - I walked away from somethings and people I never thought I would but I did it ;-) Know when to cut your losses. Know when to walk to make sure you don't lose...
Lesson 4 - having a close, intimate spiritual relationship with God is alot better than being religious.
Lesson 5 - be prepared to be an adult. Meaning you need to follow up and follow
thru on your commitments. Be responsible. Do the right thing even when
the wrong thing feels better.
Lesson 6 - laugh...like throw your head back and laugh so loud.
Lesson 7 - smile....and show some teeth
Lesson 8 - give people their flowers while they are alive and can smell them. Why do we wait to let people know we appreciate them? Why wait to tell someone you appreciate/love them? I don't want everyone to share their sentiments of me at my funeral....tell me now while I can appreciate them....or grow & learn from them.
Lesson 9 - make time for your sisters...even if you have different interests, spend time with your sisters. There may be a time when you have a broken heart that they may be there making you feel like is normal without saying a word.
Lesson 10 make time for your friends...especially your girlfriends. These are the people that should be there for you thru thick and thin, the ones you can laugh with, cry in front of, be real/honest, be vulnerable with, shop with, watch movies with, eat dinner with, hang out with, see ya without your make up on, help you slide....ok, pull that spanxx on, tell you when your hair is a hot mess and then hand you a glass of wine...These ladies should be a part of your support group and core.
Lesson 11 - make your career a priority. Whether you are a stay at home mom, military service member, high profile businesswoman, a retail employee, or whatever you do...do your best and master your craft and industry.
Lesson 12 - change it up. Variety is the spice of life. Learn to be flexible: professionally, sexually, intimately, and with your time/commitments. Don't be so rigid. Very few things go as you plan them. Learn to adapt to what is thrown at you.
Lesson 13 -avoid debt at all costs
Lesson 14 - I've learned to make reasonable goals for the upcoming year and not be so dead set on making it happen without considering the circumstances or situation I'm in. Yes, I'd love to save 5k in one year but if I have a huge unexpected financial situation come up, I need to be able to adjust my goals. It's okay. No one is judging ;-)
Lesson 15 - Quit judging! I've realized that I don't want to be judged so I need to make sure I don't judge anyone else. You don't know what people have gone thru or are going thru as to why they make the decisions or take the actions they do. And even if you do, it's not your place to judge someone else's life or choices. Be more concerned about what's going on in your life.
Lesson 16 - Quit worrying! Focus on what you can do...then do it! Why worry over something you have no control over?
Lesson 17 - Be grateful. Show gratitude in all things. Have a spirit of thanksgiving in all situations. You don't have to be thankful FOR all situations (like, who is thankful for bad things happening to them?) but keep a spirit of thanksgiving.
Lesson 18 - I've learned that a positive attitude will get you a lot farther in life. Try to find the good in any situation.
Lesson 19 - You always have a choice....always. It may not be the desired choice, but you have a choice. And by not choosing to decide is making a choice.
Lesson 20 - Hug a little more. Give more kisses. Be affectionate. You may have been hurt in the past...but that doesn't mean it'll continue into your future.
Lesson 21 - Listen to your inner voice. It's God's voice guiding you.
Lesson 22 - Quit saving your best perfume/dress/outfit/shoes/china for some "perfect day"...Perfect days aren't able to be planned...they are lived.
Lesson 23 - Time waits for no man/woman so if you see something OR someone that should be yours, go for it. Make a plan and put it in motion. Don't sit back. Live life because if you don't now, you won't have the opportunity once it passes or once you pass away! Go for it!
Lesson 24 - Get in front of the camera! Take pictures but make sure you're in some of them!
Lesson 25 - Learn your body. Be comfortable in your body. Learn what looks good on your body. Buy clothes for the body you have right NOW. Don't buy something in hopes of losing/gaining weight.
Lesson 26 - Exercise daily. Make sure you take care of your body. Watch what you eat. Use lotion. Know what scents smell good on you.
Lesson 27 - Learn to get away from the commotion and just be still. Pray, meditate, have quiet time, enjoy simple things, marvel at nature, read...just get away from the commotion and feed your soul and get centered.
Lesson 28 - Love with all you have. Live with no regrets. If it's something that once made you happy and now it pisses you off, don't regret it. Just stop doing it.
Lesson 29 - Be the woman you want your son to marry or the woman you want your daughter to be.
Lesson 30 - Realize that you are not one dimensional. Realize that although you may be a mother/wife/best friend/CEO/employee/employer/sister/aunt, your always a woman. Celebrate who you are. Be in love with yourself.
Lesson 31 - Never stop learning.If you stop learning, you will become extinct. You will cease to exist and you will become obsolete.
Lesson 32 - Learn the difference between intimacy and sex.
Lesson 33 - Know that you should be able to have a stimulating intellectual conversation. Also know you're not always going to have those intellectual conversations, there will be some an "ain't shit" superficial conversations.
Lesson 34 - Learn that you are competent and smart enough to make your own decisions. You're an adult; you don't need anyone else's permission to live your life.
Lesson 35 - Do something sexy. Make a sexy face. Walk sexy. Take a sexy picture. Just do something sexy. At least once a week ;-) until you graduate to once a hour! lol
Lesson 36 - Joke. And do it daily. Don't take everything so seriously. Remember the saying: "Live, laugh, love"? That's real life!
Lesson 37 - Do something charitable for someone else. This world is not just about you nor does it revolve around you. Learn that there is more to this life than being self centered.
Lesson 38 - Take a trip. Quit waiting for the "right time." Set aside some money and go. Even if it's 2 hours away. Get away.
Lesson 39 - On your off day, spend at least 30 more minutes lounging in your bed. Enjoy that sleeping in? I knew you would. ;-)
Lesson 40 - Make time for yourself. Get your hair done. Get a pedicure (no one likes rough feet tearing up their sheets!). Get a massage.
Lesson 41 - Keep health insurance. If your job doesn't offer it, get an individual plan. Nonetheless, keep continuous health insurance.
Lesson 42 - Spend quality time with your kids. And if you don't have any, spend some quality time in a kid's life. This next generation needs us to give them guidance. If it's not your kid, find a kid to mentor. Show them what a man/woman should be like. You have no excuse. My motto is: Each one reach one to teach one.
Lesson 43 - Yes, single parents have it hard. So please, realize it DOES take a village to raise a child. And you, yes YOU, are part of a village. Even as hard as single parents have it, married couples have it hard as well. Raising kids is a challenge, whether you're married or single...so help out.
Lesson 44 - If you're going thru a hard time, give. If you're broke, give. Seems crazy huh? Nope. If you aren't giving and blessing others because you are holding on so tightly to what you have, you won't make room for God to pour out blessings into your hand because you're holding on too tight to what you have. Open your heart and bless someone. And btw, all blessings aren't financial. ;-) Give your time, knowledge, clothing, etc...I'm sure you can find something to give.
Lesson 45 - Don't compromise your integrity. Be ethical. Do the right thing. Be honest. If you find you haven't been, then immediately do the right thing.
Lesson 46 - Charity starts at home...so does success. You don't want to be a public success and a private failure. Make sure your family and house is taken care of and in order. Your first obligation is to your family.
Lesson 47 - Don't stoop to a vindictive ex's level. You're better than that.
Lesson 48 - You don't have to be an audience to everyone's show. Every comment doesn't need your reply or opinion. Learn some self control. Learn to walk away from fools.
Lesson 49 - Being proud and stubborn can be a good thing or a bad thing. We often don't know when it's a bad thing until it's too late. Be sure to check your motives on why you're doing what you're doing.
Lesson 50 - Live your life. Don't hold back. Enjoy every moment. Learn that life is about the journey and the process we go thru. Often times we're super excited when we start something and when we complete it however, the most frustrating part is the in between time. Learn to appreciate that. Grow from the process. Live each day and don't hold back!
This last year of my 20's has been a great year. I've grown in some areas of my life that I never imagined. I'm super excited about my 30's and what they will bring me. I've said it before, I do not plan on making the same mistakes in my 30's that I did in my 20's! But I'm thankful for those mistakes because I now have the experience to help me navigate thru my life.
As I'm entering my 30's, I feel a sense of confidence I've never truly felt before. I'm confident in me. I am comfortable with me. I like who I am. It's a different feeling that I've ever felt. I don't feel like a young adult or kid who needs someone's permission or validation....I'm a woman who is confident in the decisions I make. I realize that this is my life and I'm accountable for the decisions I make. And I like that...I also like this new sense of sexiness I'm feeling as I turn "FLIRTY 30!!!!"
