Lessons Learned Before 25

Yesterday I hit a huge milestone: ... I crossed over into the 25 and up club. Normally when I have a birthday my new age doesn't hit me until I've settled into it for maybe a month. This time it hit me like New York was hit with reality when being dumped by Flavor Flav.

The months before my birthday have been filled with struggle, trials, adjustments, re-evaluations, fastings, and seeking God for my purpose on this Earth. None of those really put me in a celebrating mood. It's amazing how a dry spot can take away your enthusiam. My goal was to not do anything. It really made me sit back and analyze the day and the people I had in my life. It also taught me a lot:

1) Close friends accept you for who you are. Very true fact but not all. Close friends do not treat your relationship as one way. They don't just call when they need to talk or when 'it's time' to catch up with you. I see that the people who are around me should always be a reflection of who I am because I am who my friends are. I'm on a mission and anyone who isn't helping me go there spiritually (you aren't just talking you are walking and equally yoked), mentally (encouragement but not ordering my steps or what you think I should be doing), and emotionally (you should support emotional strength). Ok I know that's a ramble.

2) I do not want to get married right now but I am preparing to. The Lord is helping me to control my finances; I don't want to be a burden to my Man of God and everything he makes is subject to Prada. I am learning how to keep a house. Now I keep myself clean but my room days otherwise. There needs to be consistency. I'm also working on my apperance. Looking fly all the time. It's work but whenever I get married, when I look good he looks good.

3) God showed me my purpose and I know I told too many people or people who when you tell them something wanna map out your life for you or offer up unsolicited direction. Now that's good sometimes; but, when hearing from the Lord He needs to be the direction that I follow and His map I need to read. I'm learning to keep my mouth shut. Everyone doesn't need to know what I'm doing all the time.

4) Life is short I need to do me! It's not about keeping others happy, being a people pleaser, and making sure I am everything in people's eyes. Even though that all is a part of walking in love I need to love the Lord first of all and then fall back in love with myself. Find me all over again and romance myself.

5) Fitness is key! Now I've always been somewhat skinny and really didn't have to work too hard to have the body type, tone, and shape I wanted but .... Now, I have to work harder for it. No more eating what I want and not working out. It's a neccessity that I take care of my physical health as well as my spiritual, mental and emotional health.

Now these are just a few things that I have learned prior to the big 2-5 but there was so much more. I'm very excited for this new start, new phase, and new year to really be me and to grow into more of my full potential!