Yesterday, July 14th, I had my 26th birthday. It feels like a big one, being in my late 20s now. Here are some reflections I want to remember, that hopefully will make good reminders for you as well.
You cannot simultaneously micromanage your way through life and enjoy it. Do not rush; slow down, take a deep breath. Be here. It will all happen, and at the right time. The only thing you can do is become a person you are happy to be.
The only thing you can control is how you react to things. Not your circumstances, not other people. Untighten the grip, you’re only hurting your own palm. And believe me, at the end of the day you do not want to be stuck with something or someone that does not want to be there, it’s agonizing.
Sun, blue and pink skies, trees, and a body of water will always ease your mind.
I cannot live without dogs.
Food is about connection. My grandma might be 3000km away now, but every day, like all those years when she was 30km away; she asks me what I ate and talks to me about what she cooked that day. And every day, it feels sacred. Call her everyday.
You can pray anywhere, anyhow, and if you have faith in your heart, eventually, your prayer will be answered. I don’t believe this; I know this. At church, in bed, by the lake, on the beach, or on the bathroom floor (especially effective, however sad, lol), it does not matter. How you call the receiver of your prayer, Source, Universe, or Higher Self, does not matter. For me, it’s God.
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." ― Mark 11:23-24
Forgive. Your dad, your mom, your grandparents, your cousin, your ex, your old friends, your old self. What you hold onto keeps you hostage.
Doing something creative, something you would have loved as a child will always bring you back to your body. Painting, clay, drawing, singing—you do not have to be good at it; it’s enough to just enjoy it.
Even though you are introverted, you should still say yes to plans once in a while. Being around the right people, exchanging notes, and hearing their stories is uplifting. Let them mirror back to you that you are still extraordinary, even though you got used to yourself after co-living for so long.
Take time to rest. Take a nap. Bask in the sweetness of doing absolutely nothing or doing things in a way that is not shiny and productive.
Other people are living for the first time as well. Allow them to have their own desires and timelines. Allow them to marvel at things that are minuscule to you.
I love going to the grocery store.
Beauty standards will get to you no matter how conscious you try to be. Nature has the answer to this as well. Nothing is perfect per se. The tree branches are wonky and no flowers look exactly the same. They are all show-stoppingly beautiful. So are you. So is everyone else.
“No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.” ― Virginia Woolf
Take a lot of pictures. Keep a journal, write it all down. Those little time travel machines help the magic last longer. It is a gift to your future self. Help her remember.
Hug. A lot.
It’s fun to walk barefoot on the grass.
You have to let things go. I know you don’t always know how to yet. But you cannot easily move forward with too much excess weight.
Dresses and skirts>pants
You cannot make everyone happy. Not everyone is going to love you or like you for that matter. You can spread yourself thin trying to please everyone, to be what they expect you to be, but it’s more fun being who you are. You are not for everyone, and that’s okay. The only way you will ever be enough is if you accept yourself.
Drinking hot chocolate is always a good idea.
Friends come and go, but the real ones will stay. Your relationship might not look like it did years ago, but it’s here, and when you talk to them, it feels like not one day has passed.
Books are medicine.
Saying no, even if it might feel awkward at the moment, will feel satisfying afterward. Saying no is you regaining your power.
Your body already has the answer. Do you want to eat this? Is this the right person for you? Should you accept this job? Should you go on the trip? All the answers are there. What does your gut say?
Make yourself happy. Commit to doing all the things you know make you feel full of life, and, like a mirror, your life will become full on the outside, too.
Stop trying to figure it out. You have nothing to figure out. It will work itself out if you let it.
“I know love is real because I exist, and I’m full of it.”
Happy birthday angel! What sweet, beautiful wise reminders - and yesss you are full of loveeeee <3 <3 I feel it all over this post!
Happy birthday!!
I'm almost your age, so these were very insightful to read and so relatable! The last one—"Stop trying to figure it out. You have nothing to figure out. It will work itself out if you let it."—hit me the hardest and gave me permission to stop overthinking everything. Thank you for this lovely read!