25 Years of Learning

I turned 25 yesterday. Felt like a big milestone - quarter of a century and all that jazz. I'm not usually one to make birthday goals, but this year I actually had a few. I've hit most of them, but more importantly I've done a whole heck of a lot of life reflection.  I want to spend my whole life learning, especially about the beauty of people and the joys of life. Though 25 may still be young, it has done me well, and I look forward to the next 25 years of learning.

Here's a list of 25 things I've learned in 25 years:

1. Your parents are so much smarter than you thought

We all know that, and finally learn to appreciate it when we're older. Just had to get the obvious out of the way.

2. Keep trying new foods

I grew up hating natural peanut butter and vegetables (and a host of other things - picky eaters FTW!) Now, I could eat a jar of natural PB in one sitting, and the vegetables...well I've added at least a few new ones to my palette!

3. Stop wearing clothes you don't feel fabulous in

We all have outfits that make us feel amazing, and outfits that make us feel uncomfortable. Maybe the waistband cinches our love handles too tightly, or the shirt creates a uni-boob (come on, you know the uni-boob look). Why do we wear these things? Because we feel guilty owning things we never wear? That's my problem. Why I bought it in the first place, I'll never know. But my clothes don't have feelings and won't feel left out if I keep choosing the other pair of jeans. Give them away, donate them, or throw them out.

4. Learn to enjoy your job, or find a new one

It doesn't need to be your dream career for you to enjoy it, either. Find the things that you really appreciate about where you work, and stop griping so much about how much better it could be. Even being in my dream job, there's things I wish were different, but it's a waste of energy focusing on the negative.

5. Fail videos, especially ones with kids, will always be hilarious.

6. Drink more water

Seriously. This isn't just mom or fitness advice here. I'm up to six litres a day, and my insides have never felt better. You definitely don't have to drink that much (unless you want to join me in the pee-every-half-hour club) but drink more than you are right now. Your body will thank you.

7. Smiling at people and saying hello as you walk by isn't actually that scary

For some reason, despite living in a small town my whole life, I've always had a weird fear of this. It probably comes from insecurities and feeling like I don't have the "right" to talk to certain people - what?? It's really quite freeing and wonderful once you pick up the habit.

8. Having nice legs for summer is a fruitless effort if you live in Manitoba

Mosquitoes = red bumps, bruises, and scratch marks. Just give up the dream. 

9. Friendships are going to come and go

And that's really ok. Sometimes those people will still be in your life, but your relationship will look totally different. That was a really tough one for me, but I'm learning to really value the close friendships I do have, and be at peace with the ones that have drifted.

10. Being on the same "team" as your spouse is a fun, worthwhile adventure

Some couples like to have their own hobbies, friendships, and goals, and that works wonderfully for them. But for Justin and I, we've discovered one of the best things we can do for our relationship is to go after and do the same things. We've always had the same large social group, musical tastes, hobbies, etc. but this year we took it to a whole 'notha level with our fitness goals, house building plans, business endeavors, and new relationships. When we're on the same team going for the same thing, we are a force to be reckoned with. If that works for you, I say go for it! 

11. Candy Crush is a soul sucking black hole

Get out while you still can.

12. Getting up early isn't as awful as you thought

I hate early mornings with a fiery passion, but with my morning cardio sessions, I have learned to appreciate them. It gets easier every time - promise.

13. Mentors are incredibly valuable

I have someone I meet with every few months who simply listens to what I have to tell her, asks challenging questions, and gives beautiful Godly advice. It's like a therapist I don't have to pay for and we drink tea and sit in a hot tub. I have gained so much wisdom from these times and I highly recommend finding such a person in your life.

14. Long distance best friendships are really difficult, but entirely worth it

Two of my very best friends moved away indefinitely this year, and it was very hard. I fought it at first, and didn't like anything about it. But I've come to appreciate the new relationship we've developed, and have done a lot of traveling recently! It's a different kind of loving someone, and I'm enjoying it.

15. Somebody out there wishes they had your body type

So stop complaining about yours. This is an entire post on its own, so I'll leave it at that for now.

16. I will probably never like coffee

I've tried it in every form and a Coffee Crisp is still the closest I'll get. I blame my persistent sweet tooth and disdain for anything remotely bitter.

17. Sometimes it's entirely worth it to stay up late and get very little sleep

Sometimes it's far more worth it to go to bed early get a good nights rest. Know the difference.

18. Memes are hilarious

I hope they never die. I couldn't go back to a life without them.

19. Telling someone they are beautiful doesn't make you less beautiful

As females, especially, we are often so reserved when it comes to complimenting others. Self-esteem issues and all that nonsense. Think about the last few times someone complimented or spoke words of life over you. You remember it, don't you? Now go be that person for someone else.

20. Stop eating foods that make you feel like garbage

This isn't a gluten-dairy-sugar-free rant by any means, but it is a suggestion to figure out which foods (if any - you might be a lucky one) make your insides feel like they're turning inside out. I've had stomach issues my whole life, with the best suggestion from a doctor being "eat Activia yogurt". Once I got on a meal plan that eliminated some of those food items, I feel like I have a brand new stomach! I still indulge here and there (and pay for it later), but for the most part, avoid the foods that cause pain and discomfort.

21. Grammar is really important

The internet will mock you mercilessly if you don't get it right. Thank you tiny weird elementary school for having an entire class dedicated to this important item for me. I knew how to use semi colons by grade three. (Please don't judge me if you find any typos...)

22. I think about food more than what is socially acceptable

I don't understand when people forget to eat or only eat three meals a day. I'm ridiculous, I know.

23. Surrounding yourself with quality people is essential

You become who you spend time with. I am very thankful for this truth, because I'm surrounded by some of the best human beings around. I inundated with love from and for them. I wouldn't choose anyone else.

24. You are capable of more than you think

Last year at this time I was still only dreaming of having a body I was proud of. I never thought I could actually do something about it and achieve some pretty huge goals. Now, I'm on my way to a fitness competition, have seen amazing changes, and gained a lot of insight in the process. I would have never believed I could do half of the things I've accomplished, and have learned to not let fear and doubt stand in the way of my dreams! *insert cheesy music

25. God's grace and love is overwhelmingly powerful. 

There is nothing that compares and I need it each day to survive and succeed. I'm so glad I discovered that early on.

Thank you for believing in me

I sincerely apologize for my lack of posts in the last two months. I'm not quite sure who I am apologizing to as I never really know who reads my ramblings, but at least a few people have bugged me about writing something. If you follow my fitness blog at all, you'll see I've been a little more active there. It's a little more lighthearted - recipe posts, my thoughts on fitness, etc. But I'm moving over here today.

To be honest, my heart has been dealing with a few big things (that I will write about soon), and it didn't feel right to post about anything else in the meantime. Not that I wait until I have it all together before I share something with you, but I really wanted to tell you about those things. But I couldn't yet. It's coming.

All of that got me thinking about "having it all together" and what that looks like in our world. Not so much the steady job, nice car, married with two kids scenario, but more of a spiritual and mental togetherness that qualifies us to lead and inspire other people. The idea of making sure you have it figured out before you try to help someone else.

I have learned so many times, as I'm sure you have too, that it truly is only God who qualifies us and we are never really "ready" for what He has planned for us next. He never asks us to have our lives figured out to darn near perfection before He leads us to lead others. We all know this in some way or another, and know that He fills in the gaps for where we don't measure up.

What I want to share and acknowledge are the people He uses to believe in and inspire us before we believe in ourselves. We have all had them in our lives. The beautiful people who walk into our messy little world and say in one way, shape or form, "You can do this. I believe in you." They may not even realize how much they have influenced you. But to you, it could be the difference of following your biggest dream or forever being too scared to try. I want to thank some of those people in my life. You probably have some similar ones, so think about them as you read about mine.

To the elementary school teacher who taught me and seven other students from grades one through six in our tiny little school on a hill: 

Thank you for believing in a rowdy class of seven year-olds who played "pet shop",
"orphanage", and even "dog pile" the moment you left the room. You knew we were nuts and you loved us for it. We all felt like your own kids, and you valued us, even when we didn't deserve it. Thank you for giving me extra school work and books to read, knowing my busy little brain needed a little more. Thank you for believing that we could be spiritual warriors, even at that age, and teaching us about the power of prayer, how to worship, and even the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I will never forget learning about and actually using the spiritual gifts when I was just in grade three, and knowing that I could be powerfully used by God, no matter my age. What an amazing gift.

To a few specific teachers in high school who thought better of me than I deserved:

Thank you for believing I was late for class after lunch because I was doing student council activities, when I was really just off in the bush up to no good. Ahem. Thank you for accepting me into student council as a shy little grade nine kid, and showing me what it meant to be a leader. You taught me how to influence my peers, set goals and make decisions, interview people, and plan events. All of this led to my passion for my current career, and I would have never guessed I possessed those skills. Thank you for making me speak in public when I didn't believe I could, only to find out I loved it and want to do it for the rest of my life. Thank you for causing me to rise to the challenges and believe I was always capable of more. 

To the director of a summer camp who put me in leadership positions at my lowest point:

Thank you for seeing past my enormous amount of imperfections and asking me to lead teams of girls. You didn't know it at the time, but I had hit rock bottom only a month prior and chose to spend my summer there in hopes of putting myself back together. My heart needed mending, and I knew Jesus would meet me there if I followed His leading. The plan was to duck my head and blend into the background while I quietly served and healed. But God knows that's never been my style and He had other plans in mind. Thank you for being obedient and putting me in roles I thought were best suited by other women; women who "had it all together" and who would do a better job than me at teaching girls how to love themselves, love each other, and that they are beautiful. Leading all of those amazing girls probably taught me more than them. I had no faith in myself, but you did, and by the grace of God, I rose to the occasion. You spoke words of life over me that I will never forget.  Thank you for believing anyone can be used, no matter their past.

To the co worker who trained me to do my job and knew I could handle the position of director:

Thank you for setting an incredible example of how to do this job well, while still having a ton of fun. You taught me the various skills that it takes and never criticized me in my learning curve. We went through some of the most difficult times our department had ever faced, but we gained so much valuable experience and we (let's be serious) totally rocked it together. But you taught me so much more than just work-related lessons. You were a mentor, both spiritually and relationally, and I gleaned so much wisdom from your fun-loving, yet intense and wise nature. I was terrified when you left, and didn't believe I could do the job without your guidance. But you had confidence I could step into that role, and knew I would succeed as the youngest director of the company. I love my job, and could have never gotten here without your faith in my abilities.

And finally, just to be cheesy...

To my husband who believes in me every day:

Thank you for believing your friend when he told you it would be worth to come to the library. You didn't know you would meet me, fall in love, and pursue me for the next year. Thank you for believing I would eventually say yes to your asking, and that it would lead to a wild adventure together. You believe in my goals when I don't see how they're possible. You show me the progress when I don't see it. You believe in my love, even when it's not shown. You believe in the power of us, even when we forget that we're on the same team. You make me accomplish greater things than I ever would on my own, and believe in the power of Christ in me. I wouldn't want anyone else on my team, and I believe in the power of our unity.

There are obviously so many more people I could write about (my incredible parents and brothers, God-given friends, encouraging trainers, every single one of you who read this blog, etc.) but this is a snapshot of the people who have influenced me by believing in me before I thought myself capable.

Now the challenge in this is not only to think about those people in your life, but to be the same for someone else. To be someone who encourages, inspires, leads, motivates, and believes in a person, even if they don't feel they have what it takes. To love people, truly unconditionally, and to see the potential and call it out in them. Find the gold in people and bring it to the surface. Make people feel valuable and worthy, even when it's not easily seen. You may have to dig a little and get all "diamond in the rough" on them. But think about the impact you could have on their life and the great things they could accomplish with your encouragement. The only thing it may cost you is a little pride, and the results are astounding.  

So think about the people who have influenced you, thank them if you can, and be that same person to someone else.