20/20

Gotta admit: I'm a sucker for a good milestone.

I remember being 9 and excitedly eager to have a double digit age (true story).

Then a few years later, anxious to become a teenager. 

THEN ready to kiss those teen years good-bye as a twenty year old.

And now here we are at the brink of 30 in a few minutes (eeeekkkk!!!!!). Kinda scary, kinda exciting, kinda disappointing. But it is what it is! I thought it would be fun to write a post on 20 things I learned in my 20's but I didn't think I could come up with 20. I started jotting down thoughts one day every few minutes and before I knew it, BAM! I had 17 nuggets of wisdom! HA! So here we go....

DISCLAIMER: I am still a work in progress. Just because I learned the lesson, doesn't mean that I have it all down pat. :)

1. Learn to be your own company - I am an extrovert.... well, sorta. I used to be more of one when I was younger. But now I have learned to really love to be all by myself. I don't need to depend on other people's schedules to have an enjoyable time.

2. Rejoice with those who rejoice - Don't allow yourself to fall into self-pity and jealousy. When someone is happy about a new stage (dating/marriage/baby), do a heart check. Make sure that you're truly happy for them too.

3. You have the right to remain silent - Keep your mouth shut. Sometimes it's best to keep that clever retort in your head in case it comes back to haunt you.

4. Give till it hurts.... and then give some more - It's not a bad thing to push yourself to the limit sometimes. You just might find out you have more strength/tolerance/patience than you initially thought.

5. You will strongly dislike the ways/character of some people. Love them anyway. Pray for them anyway. - I'm reminded of this one almost daily. :)

6. Hindsight really is 20/20 - It's not just a cliche. Being in the present doesn't allow you to truly understand a situation until you can see it from afar.

7. Things always work out. Just pray and wait. - There was a time I observed a situation that was SO much bigger than me and I couldn't see how God could change it. And then of course, God swoops in and speedily corrects everything so easily. How dare I doubt Him.

8. Drinks lots of water. It's good for you. - I remember scoffing at water as a teen. All I wanted was the sugary stuff. Now things are different. I mean, I still like sugary stuff. But now I crave water. That's amazing.

9. Eat and learn to love salads. Those are good for you too. - Same as above. 

10. Get out of your comfort zone and meet someone new - I used to get nervous about meeting new people (I think that was due to insecurity) so I would purpose within myself to meet at least one person new. Once you start, it becomes natural. Now I love it.

11. It behooves you to listen to your pastor's counsel - First of all, word choice - I used the word "behoove" because my pastor is the only person that I ever hear using it! I have seen it time after time. People not heeding to the advice that a pastor has given them and ending up in a big ol' mess. Don't be that person.

12. Sometimes life hurts/stings/bruises/just plain sucks. But you'll get over it. :) 

13. Love you for you - you are unique, you are beautiful, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. you have value. you have worth. you are a child of the king. He is completely aware of your imperfections and still loves you. Learn to love yourself for who you are and however God made you. He makes no mistakes.

14. Beware of making grandiose plans. They may not pan out and as the saying goes, God will laugh at said plans.

15. Are you in the wrong? Own up to it ASAP. - It's just easier to me if I apologize or admit my wrong sooner rather than later.

16. People will make decisions that they feel are sound and you feel are dumb. Oh well. - It's not your life. Sometimes people don't want to be reasoned with. All you can do is pray.

17. Embrace you age - Live it to the fullest even when the number doesn't align with your expectations. 

18. You are not stuck - I went through a phase where I felt as though I needed to leave, pronto. I want to live in a beautiful place. I hate it here. Stuff like that. Then I felt as though God was showing me that I needed to find the beauty in where I am at now. Don't sit around waiting for change. Make the best of where you are.

19. Give people time to make decisions, to think about it, etc. - I am annoying and want to resolve everything now. Everyone is not like me. Give people space.

20. Forfeiting future fortunes for fickle feelings - What is this long alliterative phrase?! It is a message from many years ago (like maybe 10 years) at Heritage in Colorado Springs [preached by Elder Jonathan Alvear]. I remember not going to choir practice before service and praying in my hotel room for God to give me a word just for me. And He did. I didn't grasp it completely until few years down the road. Don't make decisions based on fleeting emotions. Remember that God has a plan. It may take a while to understand it all but you will be glad that you waited on the Lord instead of carrying out your own agenda.