Many of you know that I turned 26 yesterday! Whoo-hoo! The day certainly turned out much better than I expected. Honestly, I went into the day a little sad. I'm 26, unmarried, no kids and I've just decided on what I want to do with my life, kind of. I felt inadequate.
I often look at the Instagram and Facebook posts of my friends and read their group messages as they excitedly share their recent engagement or latest job promotion and I cannot lie, I get jealous. I'm just not where I THOUGHT I should be at 26.
I'm not quite sure where I got this idea that I was supposed to have my life all together by 25, but it's hard to shake it. Perhaps too many romantic comedies or episodes of unrealistic TV shows have corrupted my ability to just accept that everyone's path is different. Or maybe the pressure to live up to a standard set by people in my life from childhood just got to me. Either way, I just couldn't help but feel like maybe I missed something along the way.
Yet, yesterday, I read so many inspiring messages from friends, family members, colleagues and old college roommates and I started to reflect on just how awesome life has been for me. Each of their Happy Birthday messages were filled with words like "I'm proud of you" or "You've become such an awesome woman" and "It's so good to see you go after what you want". As I read these messages of love and appreciation, I had to stop and Thank God and apologize. I thanked Him for the opportunity to live this life of mine no matter how crazy it seems at times and I apologized for not thanking Him more for all the little things.
You see, I had forgotten how much I'd accomplished. I'd forgotten the graduation from Howard, the trips to Europe, the performances I've had or the courage it took to start my own business. I'd forgotten the fears I'd conquered and the bad days I'd come through. I'd forgotten the victories. How crazy of me, I thought. How could I forget so soon?
It's easy.
Yet, I want to encourage each of you not to wait until you read beautiful messages about yourself on Facebook or in your inbox to remember just how fantastic your life has been. Just take a moment and reflect. I'm sure you'll laugh at some moments and tears may come concerning others, but hasn't life been beautiful for the most part? And if you think it hasn't, just start with today. It can be beautiful starting NOW.
I want to say THANK YOU to everyone for their kind words and for helping me to look at my 26th birthday as a moment to reflect on just how far I'd come and not get hung up on how far I have to go.
So, with that said, my goals or should I say GOAL for this 26th year of my life is to just BE. Of course I will work hard, pray more, be grateful, reach out to the people I love more, but most of all I am giving myself permission to just BE...myself, in the moment, happy. I'm sure Twelve 50 will flourish as a result!
I cannot wait for this year ahead!
What are your goals for your next year or stage of life! Let me know in the comments below or let's take this convo to Facebook!
xoxo
Whitney
