I've Learned Along The Way

21 is the year where society makes it okay for the person to be a complete fool, a drunken mess and always doing something crazy.

That wasn't quite what 21 was for me, 21 was what I'd like to think was my learning year.

It wasn't a crazy drunken fest, I did have a handful of nights where I "acted my age" but for the most part I was pretty low key.

There has been so much I've learned about myself, life and God while I've been 21.

I made some of the biggest decisions up to date about my life.

I learned that starting over is incredibly difficult.

I wasn't even 21 for a month before I ended a relationship that I had for two years. Breaking up broke my heart but was a decision I have not regretted for a day.

I learned that we put people up on pedestals because we look up to them and think they are worthy of more attention than others, and I realized that was ridiculous to do. We are all human, we all make mistakes, we all have sins, we all have imperfections, and yet we hold people up so much higher than everyone else. I learned that God was the only person I should be holding on the upmost high.

I learned that people change and that it is okay.

I moved away to a different state for school with my two cousins and that was a huge change for me.

I learned that I wasted a semester sitting on the sidelines not being the social butterfly I normally am because I lost a lot of my friends from my previous college and realized that doing that was incredibly stupid of me.

I learned the hard way that putting school on the back burner is a stupid decision, and even if you hate a class that is no excuse to not attend or pay attention.

I learned that even though finding out I was cheated on after the break up still stung. It made me really doubt myself and what I have to offer in relationships, which also made me hold back when it came to meeting guys in college. I realized after a lot of praying and self reflection that nobody deserves to be cheated on and I am not the exception to that rule. I didn't deserve to be cheated on, I deserved better and I shouldn't have held back when it comes to opening up to the idea of letting someone else in.

I learned that family is the most important and times with them need to be cherished. I learned that they are the best support system and help healing. They are God's given blessings that help you on earth get through the tough times and also create memories that are filled with joy and laughter and make me happy to be alive.

I learned that life is short and that I will not know when God chooses to call me up. I lost a great friend who lived a kind, humble, passionate, caring, life and was taken in his mid twenties. And by living our lives to the fullest and laughing and loving will bring the loved ones who have passed joy knowing we haven't stopped everything because of them.

I learned to stop making EXCUSES. They don't get me anywhere and they are meaningless. I learned to take responsibility for my actions.

I learned that if I want to lose weight I can't just think about it I actually have to get up and actively do something about it by changing my lifestyle. I learned that a healthier lifestyle is something I want for myself.

I learned that friendships can be formed in the oddest of ways but that doesn't mean I should let them pass me by.

I learned that listening to what people say about a person isn't the most valid thing to base a person off of. I learned that there are two sides to every story and letting myself base opinions off of one side was wrong and a terrible thing to do.
 

I learned that forgiveness is powerful. I have had some pretty low moments with God when I was feeling sorry about myself and the situations I was in and wondered why God was putting me through them. I realized one day I was in the wrong and God was in the right so I asked him for forgiveness and felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. I have forgiven people without them even knowing I have because I also learned that hate is an unnecessary thing to hold in your heart for anyone. I have been forgiven and have forgiven.

I learned that God will take care of my enemies and wishing harm against them or planning evil toward them is going against God and the plans He has for my enemies.

I learned that some people aren't meant to be trusted, and life isn't as peachy as I used to think it to be. 

I learned that the decisions I make today affect my tomorrow.

I learned that being an aunt is the best gift my sisters or God could have given me.

I learned that I am never too busy for God, never too busy to open up my Bible, never too busy to praise and thank Him, never too busy to pray for others and myself, never too busy to write letters to God.

I also learned that waking up early will change your whole day, and laziness gets you no where.

I learned that my not-so-kick-ass life I was leading needed to be changed to a very-kick-ass life.

I learned that money doesn't measure worth. 

I learned that a compliment given is more important than a compliment received.

I learned that if a person isn't willing to change, I can't make them same goes for myself.

I learned that I can be hurt by loved and healed by the same.

I learned that if you don't put your passion into action, or your plans into play I'll just let life pass me by.

I learned that I still have a lot left to learn.

Every time my birthday comes around I reflect on how my last age went. 21 was a year of learning, 22 needs to be my year of doing. Hold me accountable, let me not forget what I've learned, make sure I'm going out and kicking ass in life.