No, it's not my birthday. I'm exactly thirty-nine and a half. I can look back and see how good God has been to me. In the past few years, I've learned some useful lessons I'd love to share.
1 • Find Community - finding your people makes everything easier. Once you find them, cultivate those friendships. Your community shouldn't be all located in one place. Spread the love. You will be glad you did.
2 • Rest is Best - I wasn't a big fan of resting until I needed to. I'm sold on the idea and I carve daily time to make sure I rest. Rest makes me more productive. I am healthier when I rest. You can't put it on a pill, you just have to do it.
3 • Read for Pleasure - I have always enjoyed reading. I went through an intense time (college and grad school) when I learned to read in a different level. I now make time to read. I get creative and I cut down on the unnecessary so that reading can happen. Even if all I have is 15 minutes, the investment is great.
4 • Teach intentionally - I'm thinking about my childhood and I realized my parents and grandparents were very intentional about what they taught me. I am doing the same for my kids. It was as if they were training me to be the adult I now am, I just didn't know it. Character doesn't happen on a vacuum. It takes intentional teachers who model what they teach daily.
5 • Have a plan - Don't underestimate the power of a plan. Planning gives me direction and margin in life. I tried to be rigid about my planning, so the next tip needs to be used with this one.
6 • Be flexible - I didn't know what being flexible was until a few year ago. Family life has a way of drilling flexibility into your being. Plans don't often happen without the need of flexibility. Being flexible grows me as a mature woman of God.
7 • You come first - I can't give what I don't have. I have learned that I come first. It is not about being selfish. It is about being the best I can be so that I can do all the things God called me to do. When I come first, I pray, I rest, I exercise, I eat well, I care for myself. Everyone benefits from all of these things.
8 • Invest in marriage - The most important relationship I have requires great investment. I'm thankful my husband invests in me, in himself and in our marriage. We're both not afraid of asking for outside help when we need it.
9 • Manage stress - It is no worth living with the side effects of stress. Learning how to manage stress is one of the wisest things I do in life.
10 • Grow in your knowledge of God - I am persuaded that I need to grow in my knowledge of God. I don't know everything about Him. Everything new (and old) I learn leads me to realize that He is better than I expect it.
What are your life lessons thus far?
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