following in the footsteps of the last two years – i thought i would share some birthday advice on things i’ve learned walking into my twenty-seventh year on this earth.
twenty-six was interesting for me.
it was beautiful, challenging, hopeful, painful, disappointing, encouraging, and left an interesting taste in my mouth.
i really processed moving on from an ex, anxiety seemed to creep back into my life, i finally got my feet on a mountain for a girls weekend, i embraced my singleness – and then met someone – and then it just didn’t work out, i finally addressed my 17 year old self, God wrecked me a few times, i had to say goodbye my beautiful grandmother, i traveled with my brother to ireland and scotland, i met amazing people and forged new friendships, i laughed – a lot, i cried – a lot.
all in all it was…good, and hard.
so now onto the advice…
1 || darling, be adventurous.
2 || even if it hurts, say yes to hope.
3 || pursue.
1 || darling, be adventurous.
run. jump, hike, climb, swim, run, sweat, lay down…experience life.
adventure can come in trips, but mostly adventure is found within – in how you view your day to day life. it can come from delving into a new friendship, a hard conversation, taking a day trip, and finding that spark in the smallest areas. i truly believe i have a wandering heart – one that craves the adventure the Lord has created, one that won’t be tamed by the mundane…but that is seeking out new experiences.
2 || even if it hurts, say yes to hope.
this is hard for me – because i’m a pretty guarded individual.
if you get to know me – i’m rather optimistic and positive, but i don’t allow myself to be super hopeful. i’ve had the rug yanked out from under me more times than i can count….so i get cautious.
but there is something beautiful in hope, even if the hope is dashed later on.
it allows you to feel things you didn’t think were possible.
and i think that is beautiful – being reminded that life itself is fragile so the things we are able to experience is so delicate and precious and we should be thankful.
3 || pursue.
God, passions, new experiences, friendships, community, goals…
anything and everything that is good.
complacency is for the birds – and it does no good for the soul. so push yourself, harder, faster, stronger, more diligently – and pursue what’s in front of you. pursue what you thought was never possible. pursue the Lord in new ways….pursue.
…after the advice, i figured i might as well share some things that i’ve learned this year.
// i’ve learned i have a heart bent towards adventure.
// i’ve learned i have a lot of work to do to move forward in some areas.
// i’ve learned laughter truly is the best medicine.
// i’ve learned i can still fall for someone.
// i’ve learned the Lord is bigger and more personal than i ever imagined.
// i’ve learned it’s ok to feel things – and not shut down.
// i’ve learned i can push myself farther than i think i can.
// i’ve learned good things take time, and a lot of effort
// i’ve learned to love those who walk into my life.
// i’ve learned that while life may not be where i thought it would by twenty-seven, i can be ok with it.
