take a moment to read this...you won't be sorry.
don'tcha just love her? :)
of course, this leads me to want to write my own mini "thirty manifesto".
i know i still have a lot to learn but let me just say that when the 30-me looks back at the 20-me....she can't help but look at little-miss-20 with an expression that reads "oh, bless her heart".
it blows my mind to look back and remember what i was like 10 years ago. it seems SO long ago but just like yesterday at the same time. memories are funny that way. i was pretty sure i had life all figured out (ha!) & that i knew exactly where i was going (double ha!) but that's the beauty of it all really....not knowing, enjoying the ride, & winding up at a place that you didn't expect but that's far more perfect than you could have planned for.
a friend of mine once said this..."life is messy. but it is full". good call. sure, my 20's had their fair share of "messes"...mistakes (or lessons...if you prefer), goodbyes & heartache were sprinkled throughout my 20's. there were plenty of desperate prayers sent up that went "unanswered". but i'm glad to move past these. i would rather focus on the joy, the laughter & the blessings that were shoveled onto, not just sprinkled throughout my 20's. college, achievements, marathons, faith, marriage, career, family, home, travels....all of these things made my 20's a little less messy & a lot more full. i am grateful for every moment because i know it took all the good AND all the bad to get me to where i am today. i don't know much but i know this: i'm right where i'm supposed to be at thirty. and that feels oh-so-good.
i also know alot more about myself than i did at 20.
-i've learned the importance of being authentic.
-i've learned to cultivate a faith that i can call my own...one that is real & true & deep.
-i've learned that i have a conservative head & a liberal heart...& that's OKAY.
-i've learned to love & to be loved. like for real.
-i've learned that family will always have a special place in my heart, regardless of miles or time spent between us.
-i've learned that good friends who become more like family are one of life's greatest treasures.
-i've learned that i can OWN every single group ex class at gold's gym except for body jam, which magically brings out the spaz-tastic white girl in me.
-i've learned that a good margarita in the sunshine is worth every last empty calorie.
-i've learned that a job that allows me to help people is my own version of "success".
-i've learned that jealousy is a complete waste of time.
-i've learned that i am sensitive...which can be a fault sometimes but i'll take it because it also makes me extra kind to others.
-i've learned that messy hair is a small price to pay for a windows-down, radio-up jam session.
...yeah, i've learned a lot. you get the point. mostly i've learned to love MY life and embrace it.
i've only been 30 for a little over a month. already, 30 has been full...sometimes messy...but very, very good.
and that's all i could ever ask for. and i like to think that even little-miss-20knew deep down this was all she really wanted.
