THIRTY-FIVE.
And here are 35 things I have learned/accepted/come to believe in 35 years in this beautiful world...
1. I love any and every chance to sing at the top of my lungs (as if I can actually carry a tune). The shower, the car, while acting a fool with my kids -- Lord knows He didn’t bless me with a singing voice, but that doesn’t stop me from sometimes pretending I’m related to Carrie Underwood.
2. I need caffeine to survive my life. And I am a much better human if I can start my day with said caffeine + Jesus.
3. I will never be able to diet. I’d rather exercise eight times a day if it means I can eat alllllll the food.
4. I am so much more spontaneous than I ever thought I was.
5. There aren’t many bad days that can’t be turned around with an impromptu kitchen dance party with my kids and/or a good happy hour.
6. I love hard and I feel big. Always have, always will.
7. I will never remember to regularly floss (sorry Whit!).
8. But I WILL ALWAYS wear my night guard (hello sexy!). Because TMJ.
9. I, being fiercely independent and stubborn, have a really hard time asking for help.
10. I need to run like I need to breathe. Some of my most pensive, most awesome, most shocking mental moments and revelations happen while running… just me and my (embarrassing) iPhone playlist.
11. I am a sucker for surprises, and a sappy, cheesy, hopeless romantic.
12. I don’t like for different foods on my plate to touch each other.
13. My kids will be okay with a babysitter, and I will be a better mama when I get back from doing something for ME.
14. I am a morning person.
15. I believe every single person can benefit from counseling. And I am not sure I will ever be able to stop seeing mine -- I believe she + my kids + God saved my life!
16. I am terrible at responding to text messages, and every few days I’ll scroll allllllll the way down and find messages I could’ve sworn I answered. SORRY!
17. I believe in seasons of life, and that each ending can be the beginning of something new and possibly even more beautiful – if you just let it…
18. I laugh like Roseanne Barr. Man do I love to laugh, but I basically cackle uncontrollably and it’s embarrassing! Especially when the occasional snort slips out…
19. It’s okay to say yes, it’s okay to say no, it’s okay to say not right now. It’s okay to put yourself and your own needs first sometimes, to do what you want to do, and make decisions that feel right to you.
20. I believe God put me on this earth to work in education. Being around students and teachers, working in a school – it all just lights my soul on fire.
21. When you’re talking, I will likely interrupt you, and so I’ll go ahead and apologize now. This is something I am aware of and consciously working on every.single.day.
22. I am strong enough and patient enough to sit in a place of “I don’t know,” to “Be Still” (46:10).
23. And I am also strong enough to choose, to feel convicted about what I believe is best for my children and me, to love myself enough to save myself.
24. I don't like to cook. But I will always believe in the sanctity of sitting around a dinner table filled with homemade food, with my kids. So I will cook anyway. (PS I LOVE TO BAKE!)
25. I now live for moments that give me “butterfly tummy,” as CK calls it.
26. RETAIL THERAPY IS REAL AND EFFECTIVE.
27. I think spending time outdoors is essential to a good, happy life.
28. I am worthy and beautiful because I decide I am. Period. Still a daily struggle for me, but a mantra I am bound and determined to keep trying to believe.
29. I only like bananas in the mornings (never in the afternoons); and I only like apples in the afternoons (never in the mornings).
30. Good, true, genuine friends are hard to find, and therefore they are so important to nourish and love on and appreciate and hold onto with all of your might.
31. I love to read. I forgot how much until recently, when I gave myself permission to shut out the world every so often and get lost in a book.
32. Some of the things I’m now most scared of, also bring me the most excitement…
33. I am loyal, and you can depend on me. Especially if I pinky swear.
34. After 4:30pm, my general patience level drops to about a negative eight.
35. There is so much freedom in being raw and real and honest. I find my deepest breaths in my scariest, most transparent moments.
*Truthfully… I never imagined life at 35 would look like this. BUT- I love and am proud of who I’ve always been, and I love even more who I am becoming. I cannot wait to see what the next 35 years have in store for me... <3
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