21 Lessons From My 21st Year
What a year it has been.
God has taken me through valleys and mountain tops I didn’t see coming, but the joy of walking with Jesus means we aren’t alone for any of it. I am a big believer in sharing what we wish we would’ve known so people coming after us can know. In line with that belief, I came up with 21 statements of lessons I’ve learned this year. Some were new lessons, some are lessons I have had to learn over, and over, and over again. Regardless, I hope you can learn something too.
🌺 don’t compromise your morals — ever.
You can try to justify your actions and walk the line of temptation, but in your heart, you will know when you are crossing lines you don’t want to cross. In an effort to avoid those moments, pour time into defining your morals so that when temptation strikes you are prepared with a response.
🍋 do it scared or you’ll wish you would’ve
You will always wonder if it would’ve worked out. You will feel the remorse of an opportunity miss if you turn it down. I have learned I would much rather fail to try than to not try at all.
🌿 not all good things are good for you
Bad things come in good packages, and just because it is good for your friend doesn’t mean it’s good for you. We are not copy and pasted into this world, which means our needs are different from those around us. Just because it is good for someone else, does not mean it’s good for you.
🌼 living aimlessly will get you, well, nowhere
This seemingly obvious lesson is surprisingly difficult to learn. My deepest fear is rooted in living an aimless life. That I will wake up each morning with no direction and end up living a life that was never intended for me. The solution? Set daily intentions and be mindful of your mission.
🍒 looks don’t last, character does
Grass withers and so do we. If you are spending the majority of your life looking for lasting beauty on earth or trying to achieve the perfect look, you are reaching for something that is intangible and you are wasting your time.
🌈 talk to strangers on the plane
It’s super awkward, it doesn’t always work out, and I wouldn’t recommend starting with, “where are you headed?”, but it does open a conversation that has the potential to impact the rest of your life.
🫐 their success is not your failure
Simply put, you are out of the race just because your friend finished a lap. I promise you will feel more fulfilled by clapping for them than talking negatively about them. Jealousy doesn’t look good on anyone.
💡don’t settle for a job you hate
We weren’t meant to hate our jobs, we were given talents and passions so that we could operate in a job we love. We are doing a disservice to ourselves and those around us by choosing to operate in a role we were never intended to operate in. If you hate your job, quit and figure it out.
🎈living on less does not mean living less
Money can buy things that make you happy, but there are plenty of things that can make you happy that cost no money. Plus, free things don’t break down.
🚶🏻♀️ walks are FUN!!
I think we can all agree quarantine made us go crazy and also helped us recognize the importance of a walk outside.
🥑 health has a whole lot more to do with how you feel vs how you look
Your healthy body looks completely different than the healthy body of the person next to you. When you start working out and eating well to feel good rather than look good your perspective will change quickly.
🌄 resting is not productive if it’s not intentional
Stop being lazy and calling it rest. Productive rest is not filled with distraction. Turn off your phone and get outside.
☀️ wear more sunscreen
this needs no elaboration.
👏🏽 Jesus is on our side, we should really believe that
Why do we always act like Jesus is this big bad dude who is out to get us? Would a guy who hates us send his only son to die the most brutal death on our behalf so we would avoid a relationship with him? no.
🎨 create before you consume
Consuming everyone else’s creativity will absolutely destroy yours. Pretty soon you feel like a robot because you’ve entertained yourself with so much media you have trouble thinking for yourself.
🌙 do not disturb is a good feature
It is astounding how much you can get done without constant disruption. My phone controls me most days, but with one click and I’m reminded of the productivity I can have apart from it.
🤸🏽♂️hard things aren’t easy
Easy things don’t often make us better, hard things do. But we get to the hard stuff and we wish it was easy so then we try to trade the hard for the easy and end up back in a place of comfort all the while knowing we should’ve just gone through the hard stuff. Why do we do this? lol.
😘 feelings are indicators, not dictators
Feelings are good at directing you, but if you always think with your heart and never with your head you will end up on a rollercoaster of emotions.
🌴 Don’t make decisions based on others opinions or you’ll end up with a life they want
SHOOOOOOOT. It’s true. At the end of the day, you live with the decisions you make. So though it’s wise to seek insight from other people, you are the one that lives with your decisions.
⚡️sabbath with your hands if you work with your mind + vice versa
This revolutionary idea changed. my. life. I work with my mind all day, and I have a really hard time resting. But when I rest by doing something with my hands (like painting, cooking, or building) I find that my mind can rest and in turn, I work better.
☕️ a morning routine + time tucked away from distraction will change your life
I didn’t realize how aimlessly I was living until I got serious about my direction. Get serious with where you are going and it won’t take you as long to get there.
walking into #22 committed to making the most of this life with every fiber of my being!! Finding joy in these days where we can be physically, mentally, and relationally alive!! Anticipating a year where God shows up because I KNOW he will!!