Hello, 30!

Last week, I turned 30!! I have officially made it to another decade and I am beyond excited about taking on this new era in my life! I have learned so much about life and myself in my 20s. I am thankful for every mistake and lesson learned that has ultimately led me to be a better person.

I celebrated my birthday with friends and had a really good time doing it. We didn't do anything too big, but it was definitely a nice celebration and I appreciated the love. My friends are so good to me and I am very blessed to have them in my life!

I'm truly looking forward to the years to come, the expected growth, good health, wealth, and prosperity. There are so many things that I want to accomplish this year! Although they are my plans, I want to be sure I'm operating in God's will.  There are many plans that I have had for myself in my 20s that didn't quite go as I wanted them to.  With that being said, I am working daily to accept what God has for me.  I know his plans for my life are for my good and will work out better than anything I could plan for myself. I have an attitude of gratitude and couldn't be happier at this point in my life.

I did some reading back to my old posts and came across some moments of not so happy times.  I realized that even though my life has been filled with highlights and smiles, I know the rain will come too. I have learned how to navigate my way through disappointment and encourage my way out of unfavorable situations. I even cheered myself up by reading a previous post I wrote a few months ago reminding me that every bad situation will eventually come to pass.

Two people asked me what my goals were for this next decade and initially I didn't have a true concrete answer. I thought about it more and decided that my goal is to take the limits off of my thinking. To take risks and to live my best life! I feel like I've done a decent job at embracing that mentality towards the end of my 20s, so I want to continue having that same attitude. I thought about making a separate blog to highlight my 30s, but I think I'll just keep it going with this one.

Stay tuned for the adventures that are coming my way! I'm looking forward to living and sharing and hope you enjoy reading!

The Living Spree....part 1..."simplicity...happiness"

Upon turning 29, I oozed with excitement! I felt this feeling in the atmosphere that life was only about to get better from this moment on.  This feeling wasn't necessarily stemming from the notion that turning 29 would mean my life would be better merely because I was turning 29. It was more like I was finally starting to step into a new realm of appreciating the life I have been given. Now don't get me wrong, I still have my fair share of problems, issues, short comings, etc. etc., but I owe this all to my perspective of life.

In Philippians 4:12, Paul says "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation..." He then goes on to say in verse 13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".  Philippians 4:13 is a lot of people's favorite Biblical verse.  We reference it when facing any difficult situation and quote it religiously. Some get it tattooed on their bodies or use it as an e-mail signature, etc.  But one thing I've noticed is that when these two verses are truly coupled, applied, and understood, it's powerful!  To be honest with you, up until maybe last year, I had no idea what verse 12 even said! After reading the whole passage, I felt renewed, refreshed, and powerful to boldly state verse 13 knowing that with anything I face in life good or bad, happy or sad, I have strength to endure with Christ by my side!

One of the things that I envisioned for myself for the rest of my life is to be on a "living spree".  I would take time and stop and smell the flowers. I would appreciate the small things that could grant me so much joy if I would just allow it.

Today  I was talking to my best friend and she was expressing feeling like she's in a funk right now.  I was trying to help my bestie shake her "blah" feelings and I suggested to her to do something that makes her happy that's independent of anything and anyone.  Sometimes we have to dig deep and find something that can be so simple, yet makes us so happy.  I figured I'd follow my own advice and today, I chose something super simple to make me happy.

When I got home from work, I decided that I would curl up in my bed, listen to a new station on Spotify radio that I had never listened to before, read my O magazine (which by the way Jurnee Smollett-Bell looks absolutely beautiful!!), and enjoy a glass of red vino in my favorite Hokie inspired wine glass! As you can see, this is so simple, but everything I chose to do made me happy! Even down to choosing that wine glass to sip from! I don't drink wine as much as I use to, so enjoying some today was definitely a treat! And as you may recall from a previous post, I love love love music! This moment is part of the living spree because I'm truly enjoying it! I'm appreciating the life God has blessed me with and not complaining! I'm finding SOMETHING to bring me happiness regardless of any outstanding circumstance. 

What do you find to be simple, yet makes you happy? 

"...let's go on a living spree..."