25 Lessons in 25 Years

I woke up this morning as a 25 year old. I’m pretty happy about that! In honor of my birthday, I thought I’d share 25 lessons I’ve learned over the last 25 years. Get ready, Internet. They’re life-changing! Happy Wednesday!! :)

1. Absolutely everything tastes better out of a mug, with a spoon, or through a straw. Also? Ice cream should only ever be enjoyed with milk poured over it. It’s like a milkshake and not-a-milkshake all at once!
2. When given a chance to encourage someone, DO it. And when you’re thankful for someone, TELL them.
3. Marry someone who’s good at making up songs about everything and nothing. Then join in and marvel at how awesome you both are while wondering what your friends would think if they knew…
4. Shaving your legs before important events/running errands/doing anything at all makes you feel like you can take on the world! (This feeling might also allude to how rarely you shave. But that’s okay.)
5. The key to productivity is scheduling out every single day of your life. This includes scheduling free time.
6. The best kitschy Christmas song of all time is Baby, It’s Cold Outside. And the only acceptable version is that of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan. And maybe Zooey Deschanel and Will Ferrell’s. ;)
7. Some silly/practical advice: Rinsing your eyes out with water is as easy as wetting a Q-tip and smushing it on the outside corner of your eye while tilting your head to the side. (Says the girl who should be blind by now from all the hairspray, makeup, and Purell that’ve found their way in…)
8. Ginger is a miracle food! Pickled ginger to be precise. God made it to relieve all sorts of horrible sickness symptoms. The next best thing is Gatorade. But I’m pretty sure that’s just a placebo.
9. Taking an inventory of your fridge, pantry, and junk drawer will yield the world’s largest collections of mustard, soy sauce, chap stick and hair ties ever not-recorded. (Unless you record it.)
10. Buying a house is a ridiculously stressful experience. You will look at ten houses that don’t fulfill your wishlist. But then? You’ll look at an eleventh house. And it will be perfect. DON’T settle!
11. Alone time is an absolute necessity. You may love people fiercely. They might recharge you. But you will cherish the time you spend in absolute silence. With your dog keeping your feet warm. :)
12. The only website you’ll use more than Facebook in college is RateMyClass.com. You’ll take classes you can barely apply to real life. But you’ll earn some easy A’s. (Hey, I didn’t say this was a GOOD lesson!)
13. Floss. And if you have to wonder whether you should bring your coat, you probably and definitely should.
14. When you ask God for an opportunity to be an encouragement or witness to others, He will give it to you 100% of the time. And in my experience, He’ll give it to you within 24 hours.
15. Fear wastes time. Ninety-five percent of the things you worry about will NEVER happen. Maybe 99%.
16. Maintaining a clean home is the best kind of mood enhancer. Waking up knowing you barely have to lift a finger (other than to edit and answer emails) because your house is ALREADY clean? Bliss.
17. All girls love fresh flowers. They belong in every room of every house. Peonies and tulips are best of all.
18. ASPCA commercials will make you want to die. Once you have a dog you’re obsessed with, you’ll know that as soon as you hear Sarah McLachlan playing, you MUST. change. the. channel.
19. Some people are born with big hips. There’s no way around ’em. No amount of dieting or working out will change them. But? The better to birth children with, I say! (If you’re a girl, of course.)
20. When given the chance to make a good decision, but that good decision requires waiting… WAIT.
21. ‘Necessary,’ ‘committed,’ ‘license,’ and ‘exercise’ are the hardest words to spell in the English language.
22. God never stops pursuing His children. Every time you fail. Every time you’re convicted. Every time you realize how ugly your heart is. Is a time you should feel wholly encouraged that God is AFTER you.
23. You only need a few close friends (not including your mom, which is a given). Quality over quantity.
24. Love languages are legit. (That Gary Chapman guy knows what he’s talking about, y’all!) A successful marriage is one where both spouses understand how the other feels loved.
25. Nobody “deserves” anything. Quite the opposite… We deserve death. But thanks to Jesus! We are given EVERYTHING more than we “deserve.” He is ALWAYS good. He is ALWAYS faithful.

The shots interspersed here are actually iPhone photos taken (forcefully, might I add) by my H-town bestie, Kat of Mustard Seed Photography. She sure knows how to spoil a girl on her birthday. :) XOXO!!