IT'S MY 24TH BIRTHDAY!

If you read my birthday blog post from last year you may remember me saying, “I plan to take the lessons I've learned from the previous one with me as I focus on being more present, enjoying the moment I am in, making the best out of every situation, not letting society or what I perceive as milestones prevent me from being happy and making the most out of the life that God so graciously has given me.”

Did I hold true to this?

No.

At times, I was far from it but in moments like this we have to remind ourselves that we're human.

We're not perfect. It's good to be positive but if we are honest, every moment of everyday we aren't.

This year wasn’t what I would have liked it to be looking back. I wasn't where I would of liked to be at 23 years old, but after a talk with my roommate the other night, I was reminded that I am where I'm suppose to be.

Change isn’t easy to me. Well, I'm typically not fond of it in instances when it requires for me to be uncomfortable. Graduating from college wasn’t an easy adjustment for me. It went well, but it’s been a transition. I like structure to a certain degree and familiarity, so waking up and not having class or track practice everyday like I was use too was different. Having jobs that I didn't see myself doing was different. If someone asked me how I’d describe last year, I’d probably say it was my “transition year.”

Mostly, if not all of you have heard of the term, ‘mid-life crisis’ at some-point. Being dramatic, there’s been times when I said being 23 was comparable to a quarter-life crisis for me. Some of you probably think I'm jokingly, but that's serious how I felt.

I felt lost. Depressed at times.

By definition a mid-life crisis is, "an emotional crisis of identity and self-confidence that can occur in early middle age" according to The Huffington Post.

Considering that I’m not in my 30-40’s, I call it quarter-life crisis. If I really asked myself, "Are you really lost?" The answer would be, no. I mainly felt like this in one specific area of my life.

Looking at this situation for a Christian perspective, I know who I am in Christ so I’m not lost. In The Parable of the Lost Sheep Luke 15:4-5 says, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing." I'm FOUND! When we have a relationship with the Father through His son Jesus, we can find comfort in that.

I know my purpose, but I don’t know exactly how God wants me to live it out so that brought about a ton of frustration for me. Not saying I still haven't been hesitant about it, but I am working toward being more purposeful about changing my outlook, FULLY trusting God and believing that He will lead me to where I need to be and give me the "desires of my life."

Embrace the process!

When we start to be driven by our feelings and what things look like we have to remind ourself not to go off of our feelings, (because 9 times out of 10 they will steer us wrong), but believe that God will reveal things to us in HIS timing.

I'm blessed that God allowed me to see another year and I pray that I embrace the fullness of everything that 24 has to offer.

With that being said, I want to leave you with 23 things that I either learned or was reminded of at 23:

1. Let your faith be stronger than your fear.

Trust God no matter how you feel. Life is scary sometimes, but we should not let fear rule our lives.

2. Start somewhere.

Starting can be the hardest part (I am still figuring this out now), but if you don't start how will you know what may have gotten done?

3. Be bold.

4. Be kind.

There is so much craziness going on around the world. It pays to be nice! Hold a door open for the person steps behind you, go out of your way to help out someone, check on your stronger friend, or give to a family in need during the holiday. These are just a couple of ideas. There's so many acts of kindness that we can take on a daily basis. Practice doing one kind gesture a day. You never know how your kind words or gesture can really impact someone!

5. Support yourself!

Everyone won’t support you. And someones we can get so caught up in motivating others that we don't take our own advice, I am guilty of this. A lot of times it can be easier to love on others so much and we forget that we need that same care.

6. Know your worth.

Everyone won't support you or see your value so you need to see it for yourself. Some people will keep you around only when it is convenient to them. Don't let ANYONE make you feel worthless because you are far from it.

7. Good things are worth the wait!

8. It’s ok to not be ok!

We're not perfect. Sis, if you need to cry, cry, but eventually wipe those tears and keep going!

9. We are constantly learning.

10. Value those whom God has placed in your life.

Life is short. You never know when someone's last day on earth will be. Care for people, spend time with them.

11. God-friends is a thing!

There are some friends in your life who you KNOW God placed them there for a reason and that they won't leave. We all need friends who will pray for us, let us cry on their shoulder, listen to us a 3:00 a.m., and set us straight lol.

12. Follow your inner-being.

13. A bad day doesn't mean a bad life.

14. God amazing regardless!

This should of been first.

15. Self-reflection is important.

It's okay to shut out everything else around you for a day or however long you deem necessary to get to the physical, mental, and/or spiritual place that you need to be in. Sometimes we get so distracted by the outside world or others opinions that we loose touch of ourself and what WE want. If you feel like your life is cluttered or you need to refocus, this point may be for you. Do whatever you need to do to get to the right space that you need to be in - pray, fast from social media, journal, exercise, spend sometime really thinking about where you are and where you want to be, create a vision board...do what you need too!

16. Figure out the difference in what like and what you are passionate about.

17. I really do love kids.

They are so innocent, happy, and care-free. They honestly inspire me!

18. There's a time for everything.

19. People heal at different rates.

20. Love is powerful.

21. There's power in your words.

22. Live in the moment.

This can be hard to do. A lot of times, we are so focused on the future, where we aren't or what we don't have so we get distracted from being present, truly experiencing what is in-front of us and being grateful for what we have.

23. Don't settle.

Thanks for reading and for the birthday wishes and love,

-KT