What I Know At 28 : A Birthday Note

Every year I write a meaningful post about things I have learned that have taught me different lessons in life. Every year I plan for this post, as it is my favorite post to write. This year, I found myself stressing out and deleting everything I had previously written. It's the morning of my birthday, and here I am, thinking and stressing about what to write. 

Instead of thinking, I am just going to wing it, and hope it all makes sense. So here it is, what I have learned in my 28 years on this earth. The good, the bad, the pretty & ugly. If you want to view my posts from previous years, here they are. December 2013, December 2012.

Here goes nothing....

When matters of the heart are concerned, never settle. If you have questions or concerns that aren't addressed then you need to find those answers for yourself.

There will be times in life when everything seems to crumble around you. When getting out of bed is questionable and you just want to give up on everything & everyone. My advice? Keep going, keep pushing through. You have to show up. No one is going to do it for you.

Everyone that comes into your life has a lesson to teach you. I view everyone as a teacher. People come in and out for reasons, and sometimes those reasons are unknown, trust that the universe has a plan. 

As hard as you try, and as nice as you are sometimes people just don't like you. And it just is what it is. You can be the best/nicest person in the whole world, and it still wouldn't matter. Don't blame yourself and always continue to be kind. Some people are just never pleased and that has more to do with them, and less  to do with you.

If your friends or family ever need you. Just be there. Even if you have to sit together in silence, just be there. It means more to them than you will ever know. 

If a guy is into you, he will chase you. Period end of story. He will put in effort if he wants to be in your life. Same goes for any other type of relationship. 

Loneliness builds character. It sucks and hurts, but it molds you to be confident.

Love shouldn't be hard. Of course relationships are "work" but the fundamentals should be there. You should never feel like you can't express yourself or be who you are. You should feel like the best version of yourself when you are with that person. Relationships don't define us, but they should bring out the best in us. When you find the right person you feel it in your bones. You can show them the ugliest parts of you and know that they'll love you regardless. Sometimes love isn't rainbows and butterflies, and that's okay. There are no rules.

You never know what anyone is going through, so treat everyone with kindness and respect. Don't judge anybody.

Appreciate your parents. They are so important , and you'll never realize it until you get older. Those people have been through it all with you. They know who you are inside and out and care about you more than they could ever explain. These two people will ultimately be the people who guide you through your troubles, hug you during your successes and will forever have your back no matter what you do. I am so thankful to have two amazing human beings in my life who continue to be my role models.

Forgiveness doesn't make you weak, in fact I think it makes you stronger.

Life has no blueprint. People get married early, some late and some don't get married at all. Some people have 10 kids, and some have 1. Some people travel the world while others don't leave the state. Don't tell anyone how to live their lives, simply live yours.We all have different paths and no one thinks the same. Always keep an open mind.

A relationship without chemistry is not a relationship at all. If you have to ask yourself whether or not you have chemistry, then you probably don't.

What you put into this world is what you will get in return. Do your best, try your hardest and always show the people in your life how much you care about them. Life is so short, and everything is a blessing. The sooner you realize this the sooner you will wake up feeling like the world is at your fingertips.

Do what you love and the rest will follow. If you put your heart into something, it will pay off.

What I Know At 27 : A Birthday Note

Last year I wrote this post, about things I knew at 26...and a year later , here I am wanting to share more personal life knowledge, because frankly...that's what I love. I love learning and most of all I love learning through life experiences, and reading about other people's experiences. I must say out of all my years on this earth, this year has been the most life changing, and it definitely has taught me so much about myself. So without further adieu, here is what I know at 27.

When you're young you can't wait to get older, and the older you get you wish you were young. Unfortunately life passes you by pretty quickly, so it's important to enjoy every minute you have.

A few things in life always make me emotional. Pachelbel's Cannon (the wedding song-gives me goosebumps every single time) and those Sarah Mclacklan's animal cruelty commercials. (The dogs look SO sad).

You'll never be truly happy if you constantly look for it. Happiness comes from you, and grows with you. It doesn't just happen after certain situations or after you buy certain things. This also goes hand in hand with loving someone else. If you don't love yourself, it's impossible to love another.

What we think of as mistakes can usually be huge life lessons. I try not to think of anything as a mistake anymore, but a lesson that will help me avoid further issues down the line. You live, learn and grow. 

Needing alone time every once in a while is imperative for everyone. Enjoy your solitude and use it to relax your mind. 

You are a combination of the five people you spend the most time with. Pick who you surround yourself with wisely.

Focus your energy on good things in life, and you will see that life will seem a lot more positive that way.

Change only takes place if someone is willing to accept it. You can't change anybody, and you have to either accept people for who they are, or keep it moving.

Working out and treating your body right is extremely important. You're all you've got and you need to last a while. Eat well, exercise regularly, and remember that only feel as good as you allow yourself to feel.

Music is the cheapest cure to life's problems. Utilize appropriately. 

True friends will understand when life gets busy and you disappear. Those same friends also know when you need them, and they're there in a heartbeat.

Just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other, and just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do. 

You never know what struggles someone is facing. Be nice to people. Hold the door for them. Ask them how their day is going. And most of all, be caring and understanding of people's troubles. Sometimes all it takes is someone listening to make someone's day better. 

Don't settle with ordinary. Be your weirdo self and people will love it. And if they don't, who cares.

Details: Sweater / Urban Outfitters , Pants & Booties // Courtesy of Lulus

Necklace // Courtesy of Chicnova

Happy 60th Birthday Mom!

Guys, to start off, how beautiful is my Mom? Honestly. She looks AMAZING, and definitely does not look like she is turning 60 today.And the day before Valentine's (because she's that sweet!). I wrote a post like this last year (for mother's day), and wanted to write another one this year because I truly think my Mom deserves it. 

Mom, I can't explain enough how much you really mean to me and if I sat here for days I probably still wouldn't know how to explain how much I appreciate you, and everything you've done for me. You are selfless, and caring, and the best person to be around no matter what the situation. You are truly the only person who understands me, inside and out, and no matter what happens, you'll always listen to my problems, and help me solve them instead of judging me, or trying to make decisions for me. You believe in my dreams, you believe in my passions, and you never once let me think negatively about any situation I am in. When I think about the future, and the day when I decide to become a mother, I want to be just like you. I want my children to look up to me and see me as more than just a mother, but also a best friend. I tell you all the time that you're my angel, and I mean it...you are truly a blessing, and I am so incredibly lucky to have you in my life. I don't tell you enough how much I love you, so I thought, what better way than to share it with the whole world? Happy 60th birthday Mom, you are the greatest!