Hello everyone, I hope you’re having a lovely morning, afternoon, or evening! Today is my twenty-second birthday, and I was born on the twenty-second, so it’s my Golden Birthday! In honor of this special little occasion, I’ve decided to make a little post about my life so far. I’ve lived a lot of life already, so I just want to share some things—big and small—I’ve learned and now hold fast in my heart.

1. Not everyone will be your friend or even like you and not only is that okay, that’s a good thing.

It took me a while to get this one. It wasn’t until I was actually confident/secure in myself, inside and out, that this clicked in my mind. Not everyone may even like you, but that’s okay, I promise. You will be okay if someone doesn’t like you. Someone else not liking you does not negate your beauty, worth, talent, etc. And, sometimes it can even be a good thing. God is removing that person from your life because they’re not what you need; it’s not in God’s plan for you or, therefore, for your good.

2. When traveling, separate outfits by day and label them accordingly.

3. Obedience to God leads to joy. Always.

4. Even if you think you’re drinking enough water, drink more.

5. Seek God and everything else with fall into place.

6. Eating breakfast in the morning is actually a game-changer, especially if it’s protein-packed.

7. You are not your depression/anxiety/etc. Those are not your thoughts.

This one helped a lot when I was in the thick of my battle with depression. Separating myself from the depression or what was happening to me helped me to feel like it was more possible to heal. Realizing that this was not “me,” kept me from sinking into despair and letting the depression become everything I am. It also helped in the perspective of spiritual warfare; these were attacks from the enemy, not me, and especially not God.

8. You’re not stuck; you’re growing every moment.

9. Sunlight and fresh air are so so so good for you.

10. Today is not the whole story.

Just because today was hard, or rough, or awful doesn’t mean that your whole life will be. A bad day doesn’t mean a bad life. Whatever you’re going through today will be easier miles down the road, and your whole life is much more vibrant than a single rough patch or two or five.

11. Everything in your body is connected, so everything always effects something else.

This has to do more with my “crunchy” or “hippie” side. What you eat can effect the way you think, how you feel can effect your physical body, and so on. So many things in life can be fixed—or least, made easier—by adjusting your sleep, diet, exercise, and/or hobbies and routines. Everything in your body is connected; body, mind, and soul.

13. The Lord has given you days to live. Who are you to cut them short?

An ex-boyfriend of mine actually said this to me when my battle with depression first struck. It was like getting hit between the eyes with a brick; I had never thought of it that way. God has planned out each and every one of your days and there is purpose in each and every one of them. Who are you to end them? Who are you to try and change/disrupt God’s plan?

14. God does not wait for you to come to Him. He comes running to you.

I was at the gym once and this concept hit me. When we’re struggling with something and too weak to call out to God or go to His word or whatever, He comes to us. He doesn’t just sit there and wait for us to be strong enough or to come back on our own. He runs to us like the prodigal son, like the lost sheep, like every other child of His that has gotten lost. He knows we’re powerless to save ourselves, but He won’t let us drown in that. Ever.

15. “To live is to grieve. You are not protecting yourself by shutting yourself off from the world. You are limiting yourself.” – Leigh Bardugo

16. There’s enough time today to do God’s will. You will not run out of time to fulfill God’s purpose for you today.

I used to be so bent on always feeling or being productive. And, by productive, I mean doing something or working or whatever. It wasn’t until I was battling depression that I came to the realization that sometimes napping is productive. Sometimes sitting outside for ten minutes is productive. Your body needs that rest and that reset, and so does your soul. It is okay to take a step back and breathe each day. God will get done in you, what He has planned and when He has planned.

17. Find the beauty in each day and soon you will find the beauty in life itself.

18. Being a woman, feminine and godly, is such a wonderful gift.

I used to not like being a woman. There were various reasons for this, but when I made a post for Women’s History Month, my mindset began changing. I don’t know why or exactly how, but I began to love being a woman, more and more. It is so freeing and wonderful to be the person God made you to be and to relish in all our capabilities and gifts as women. You can read more about my thoughts on this in this post!

19. Your future has God in it, so it’s going to be okay.

20. Buy yourself at least one pajama set.

This is certainly a smaller one, but I still love it. In fact, I was just talking to some co-workers and friends of mine about this. Something about having a cute little pajama set is so fun! I also feel rather put-together or nice when I wake up in a matching outfit. They’re also great for long road trips or coming back from a vacation; you can still be cozy, but look cute!

21. As long as you are still breathing, God is still working in and through you.

22. Life can and will always get better.

What are some of the most important lessons to you? Are any of these new to you? Let me know in the comments! I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day or night. Keep on loving others and seeking the Lord!