As any thoughtful person does, I reflected. 31 years is not a long time in the grand scheme. It is however, plenty of time to learn, let go and embrace some things. Let’s chat about em!

3 things I learned in year 30

Making time to live is important.

I grieved the loss of a lot this year. People, friendships, personality traits, habits. What that taught me (aside from Psalms 16:8) is this:

All the advice about working, saving & investing in your future means nothing if you don’t make it there. In the “grind”, pause to enjoy the things and people around you. You have no clue when God will say that your time is up.

Freedom is a biproduct of focusing on spiritual fruit.

The more you strengthen your connection to the vine, the less you have to worry about where your sustenance comes from. Spiritual fruit are in abundance when you are close to God. Feel like you’re losing patience? Check your vertical relationship.

Owning who you are isn’t always popular but it’s blessed.

I don’t have a “life before Christ” or a “prodigal child” testimony. That doesn’t invalidate my perspective or wisdom I’ve been given to share. The same can be said for you. Just be a willing vessel. God can use us to change the world.

3 things I let go of in year 30

People Pleasing

“a willing vessel is not a doormat”,

God to me

He casually shared this one morning in prayer. I truly love people and want to see them fruitful. However, the price for that is NOT depleting myself. Pouring from an empty glass ends in everyone being thirsty. Setting boundaries, recruiting accountability partners and using discernment will help me leave this at the door.

Unhealthy Habits

I bit my nails, ate whatever I wanted, exercised only in case of emergencies AND ran up a check every time I felt sad for the better part of my 20s. Dropped it all cold turkey this year because I couldn’t spend another moment sleeping on myself. Why should you?! Need an accountability partner? Shoot me a note, I’ve got you!

Fear

As much as I encouraged others to get out there and go for what God has for them…I was TERRIFIED of the potential to mishandle His people on the platform I’ve been given. But as a friend reminded me,

POTENTIAL ISN’T TANGIBLE.

It’s time face it and move forward. There are souls on the line.

5 things I’m embracing in year 31

Speaking Up

As a neurodivergent, it was easy to wind up chastised for speaking out of turn at school in the 00s. Momentary spurts of awesome ideas completely disregarded because they were simply shared at the wrong time. So much of that can push someone into a habit of hiding. This year, I want to let go of the need to shrink back and share what God has given me freely.

Little Moments

I’ve become that friend who’s always taking pictures and videos. Many of these moments captured are never posted because they’re considered too “little” to share. These little moments are packed with joy, love, hope and more.

Goodness

Goodness isn’t a complex spiritual fruit. God’s grace and mercy grant us access to it. I want to leave this earth with the reputation that I was a good person and a giver. What better way than to focus on cultivating goodness into my character?

Love

My heart used to be a big open fuzzy space. Over time i’ve allowed it to be hardened, broken, and restricted. Healing has not been easy but as I lean into being a willing vessel, I hope to be used by Love to share it with others.

Gentleness

What happens when the only person you aren’t gentle with is yourself? I am embracing giving myself grace in this journey. I won’t always have it together…and that’s okay. The same encouragement you get from this blog will also be self-directed. Here’s to my version of the Soft Girl Era.