Birthday Reflections

Hi there, my friends! I hope you had a blessed Easter, a meaningful Passover, and just an all-around wonderful weekend. We enjoyed some refreshing time with family.

Besides the holiday celebration, last week was also my birthday week! Monday was my birthday, to be exact. We had a nice albeit low-key celebration.

Birthdays always spur reflection in me, but the amount of introspection this year has surpassed all the other years. You see, a lot of things in my life have been shifting lately…

As you may recall me mentioning, my house flooded about two months ago – rendering it essentially unlivable, as it remains now. I won’t burden you with all the gory details of that saga, but suffice it to say it’s been a tryng time. The house situation, on top of all that happened last year, has left me re-evaluating many things.

Besides the house situation, other areas of my life are shifting as well. It’s as if God is rearranging things — wiping away the old, making way for the new. While I believe the changes to be for the longterm good, change is still uncomfortable. Stepping into the unknown is a little scary. But it’s good! I’m eagerly anticipating how this next chapter of life is going to shake out.

Anyway, I say all of that to preface you reading my list… The list isn’t meant to be negative at all. It just contains some real and tough lessons I’ve learned in the last year. All good — just part of being an adult.

Adulting is hard, y’all! 🙂

42 Important Life Lessons

1. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

2. Never, ever, ever stop learning.

3. Believe in yourself, and you will succeed.

4. Know your worth.

5. We always have a chance to begin again.

6. Everything happens for a reason.

7. No one will work harder on your business than you do.

8. We have the freedom to re-invent ourselves.

9. Be very cautious of intermingling business and personal relationships.

10. There is value in regularly attending church.

11. Self-care is not optional. If you neglect it, it’ll catch up with you.

12. It’s important to take time to relax and breathe.

13. You can do hard things.

14. Stuff is just stuff. We don’t need as much of it as we think we do.

15. People matter; stuff doesn’t.

16. Don’t just consume; make the world a better place by creating.

17. By utilizing your unique gifts and strengths and talents, you make the world a better place.

18. You’re never “stuck” in a bad situation. You have the power to make the change to make it better.

19. Some friends will be there for you in good times; some friends will be there for you in hard times. But it’s rare to find one who is there for both.

20. Money can bring out the worst in people.

21. Tough situations reveal character.

22. I operate much better when I have had ample sleep and exercise.

23. When it comes to exercise, something is better than nothing.

24. Only oblige yourself to things that support the life you are trying to create.

25. Not everything last forever. Some people are only in your life for a season.

26. Not everyone is your friend.

27. Invest in those who invest in you.

28. Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.

29. Quality always trumps quantity.

30. Depth trumps width.

31. The best things often happen when you least expect them.

32. The only constant in life is change. Life is always evolving. We must learn to embrace change.

33. Life is never all good or all bad. The good and bad are usually intermingled together.

34. Having a child is the best thing I never knew I wanted or needed.

35. My daughter brings me joy every day of my life.

36. The sense of pride I feel as my child learns things is indescribable.

37. My daughter makes me a better person.

38. Time is a thief. I am much more cognizant of the passing of time since having a child. Her continual physical growth makes it all too obvious that time is marching on.

39. Traveling is more fun, more rewarding, and more complicated when you take your child.

40. I thrive from the sense of belonging within my family, no matter how small my family is.

41. Home is who you’re with, not where you are.

42. Never take for granted the blessings in your life.

In Closing

Did any of these lessons resonate with you? Maybe you are ahead of me and have already mastered all of these. But I find that I’m continually learning. And for that I am grateful.

Wishing you a fabulous week ahead! Thank you for reading.

Photos by Ashton Kelley at the Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs during Alt Summit; balloons by Jess Albins Events

6 comments

Ashton says:

April 23, 2019 at 4:02 pm

Literally crying! This is so inspiring and heart warming. Thank you for empowering us all to think so confidently of our future!

Reply
1. Carrie Colbert says:
  
  April 23, 2019 at 5:08 pm
  
  Friend! So grateful to call you friend now. Thank you for reading, commenting, and most of all — taking these fun, special pics! Xo
Katy C says:

April 23, 2019 at 8:52 pm

Beautiful list, lots of lessons to learn and then learn at an even deeper level.
Hugs, solidarity…
And no age is too old (or young) to try new adventures, especially if you were too scared or anxious to do before.
I spent year #50 making a point of having adventures… <3

Reply
1. Carrie Colbert says:
  
  April 23, 2019 at 11:32 pm
  
  So inspirational, Katy!
Amanda Cook says:

April 23, 2019 at 11:14 pm

I am on the cusp of turning 36 yo. You left me with such insight. While I can resonates with all 42 lessons.. It is really hard for me to express them with such simplicity. I hope within the next six years I gather the knowledge, experience and grace to make my own list and express it half as well as you have in this blog post. Thank you for sharing and Happiest or birthdays!

Reply
1. Carrie Colbert says:
  
  April 23, 2019 at 11:31 pm
  
  What an abundantly kind message! Thank you for that.

42 Important Lessons I Learned in my 42nd Year of Life

Birthday Reflections