41 and a Few Lessons Learned

Today is my 41st birthday, and to be honest I’m happy to embrace being another year older. Laugh lines, sun spots, calloused hands and loose skin are surface signs that I’ve lived well!

I’m a big birthday fan. I think birthdays are important to me because growing up, my parents and grandparents celebrated our birthdays to the fullest extent. I mean when it was your birthday, you got a special birthday breakfast, my grandma and grandpa would rush over and give us a present and loves. Then we were celebrated all day long!

I believe that birthdays are important to us all.

Birthdays gives us all an opportunity to reflect.

I thought I’d share a handful of lessons I’ve learned!!

41 Things I Know For Sure (In no particular order.)

1. Love is a choice, not a feeling, a mere emotion, or a passionate pursuit. True love does hard things, stands firm in messy situations, and forgives. True love is commitment.
2. Jesus is the answer. (John 14:6)
3. All encouragement emboldens us to stand tall and reach for our dreams.
4. Solid advice for all relationships: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you…” Matthew 7:12
5. Laughter is necessary for life.
6. You’re not defined by your last mistake.
7. Living a life of prayer is our lifeline, foundation and first defense, not our last resort.
8. Change is uncomfortable. Lean into the discomfort, the pay-off is immeasurable.
9. Be an example, even when no one is looking.
10. Thoughtfulness is underrated.
11. “Perseverance is what hope looks like in real life.” Erwin McManus
12. Coffee…the best motivator there is.
13. Marriage is sustainable with commitment, laughter, and a fierce friendship.
14. Be a life-long learner. Don’t stop Learning
15. Ask for help. It is always okay to ask for help.
16. God’s grace empowers us to live a life worthy of our calling.
17. Humility trumps self-importance every time.
18. It’s the little things that matter.
19. You’ll never regret choosing to forgive.
20. Drink the wine! Eat the red velvet cake and eat beef!! It is pretty simple. 
21. Don’t give up on emotional and relational wholeness. (Proverbs 12:15)
22. Buy the swimming suit, wear the shirt. It looks amazing on you.
23. Believe the best about people, don’t assume the worst.
24. Drink Water everyday.
25. Take Photos and videos.
26. To much busyness drains our energy and sidetracks us from our God given purpose.
27. Do more things that are free, like reading good book, a good walk, a good hug, or a good friend.
28. Fresh Air can never be replaced and neither can the beach with sand in your toes and sun in the sky!!
29. I have learned that competition today is very rarely as useful as cooperation. Our society now days is geared toward competition — rip each other’s throats out, survival of the fittest, on and on. But i believe that God wanted us as humans  to work together for the survival of the tribe, and cooperation pools our resources and allows everyone to contribute what they can. It requires a whole other set of people skills to work cooperatively, but it’s well worth the effort.
30. Limit screen time. I mean I get it, now days it is important but honestly it is okay to leave your phone or computer on silent to enjoy the folks and things around you. Look up and about. The views are better when you look up, for sure. 
31. If you want to influence people, learn to “listen with the intent to understand.” Stephen Covey
32. Always trust your gut – it knows the answer!
33. We are all imperfect. I have learned that it is important to embrace our imperfections. None of us has it all together, and it it easier to embrace them and share them with others. 
34. When we avoid, we lose our “why”. We lose a sense of passion and purpose.
35. Google really doesn’t know everything. As someone that knows. Don’t over do the GOOGLE. 
36. No matter how hard things get, you’ll survive. And when you DO, you’ll have a new found appreciation for life.
37. “Failures are the finger posts on the road to achievement.” C.S. Lewis
38. Letting go and forgiving others may be hard – but your inner peace is worth it!
39. Stay present. Make phone calls. Meet with friends. The only moment we are promised is NOW.
40. When all else fails, saddle a horse and go for a ride.
41. Having empathy everyday for everyone around us, will bring brighter days. Too often we judge people on too little information. We must try to understand what they do instead, put ourselves in their shoes, start with the assumption that what others do has a good reason if we understand what they’re going through. Life becomes much better if we learn empathy.

2020 is going to be a great year, I know it. What’s one thing you know for sure? Help me celebrate my birthday and comment below!