I have always been a fan of birthdays. And the older I get, the more I appreciate celebrating another year God gave me or my loved ones. Last year I read Emily P. Freeman’s book The Next Right Thing and a practice I learned from her has been reflecting on the season that just ended before starting a new one. 

As I turn 31 this week, I decided to name 30 things I’ve learned. I set a timer for 20 minutes so I wouldn’t overthink it. So these are in no order of importance and I’m sure I could change up the list a million times if I sat with it long enough. But I hope you enjoy and can maybe grab at least one nugget from the list to encourage you. I would love to hear things that you have learned during your life that have stuck with you in the comments section below. 

Some of it 
you learn the hard way
Some of it 
you read on a page
Some of it
 comes from heartbreak
Most of it 
comes with age
And none of it 
ever comes easy
A bunch of it 
you maybe can't use
I know I don't probably know 
what I think I do
But there's somethin' to 
some of it.

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30 Things I Have Learned in 30 Years

• Mama ain’t a shrink, Daddy ain’t a bank, and God ain’t a wishin’ well – Eric Church
• Rest is not a luxury in life. Rest is a requirement.
• Being a mom means drinking your coffee cold and your beer hot. 
• Men need to feel respected and women need to feel loved.
• Jesus still heals. 
• God is real. 
• The Holy Spirit gives us discernment & abundant peace.
• The more stuff you have, the more stuff you need.
• I love to write and it has become my daily therapy. 
• The Bible is actually the most exciting, scandalous, life-giving book I have ever read. 
• Infrared saunas provide amazing pain relief for most all body ailments. 
• Yoga triggers the parasympathetic nervous system forcing our bodies into a healing state. (click here to order a yoga mat!)
• The power of praying with my husband. 
• A person is what he or she thinks about all day. 
• Reflecting on our most recent season is healthy and productive before moving forward. 
• Faith is only a muscle that can be strengthen and flexed in the unknown. 
• It should be mandatory that all yoga pants have pockets. Click here for another pair I have and love!
• God can speak to us through our dreams. 
• You’ll never find an abundant life trying to meet everyone else’s expectations of you.
• History is awesome. I especially love learning about civil war and WWII and I love researching family history.
• Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose. – Viktor Frankl
• Sometimes, we need to stop talking and just listen. 
• In order to lead, we must first follow. 
• We grow when we are planted close to those who nurture us through the sunshine and rain.
• My favorite place in the world is at the end of a dirt road. 
• Life isn’t fair but tomorrow always has hope. 
• A loyal and loving dog can change your life. [Dog spelled backwards spells God. Just sayin… 🙂 ]
• Babies remind you how quickly time goes by and how important sleep is. 
• At the end of the day, your children just need to feel loved. Everything else doesn’t matter. 
• It is never too late be whoever you want to be.
• I can survive as long as I have my family, my bible, and a Dollar General.

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And here is a blessing I am praying over the people in my life as I move into this new season. It is from Numbers 6 if you would like to look it up. Talk soon! 

The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace.
 
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children.