Six Life Learnings in Thirty Years of Living

It's that time of year, so here's another recap on the year, woo. I have seen a lot of hate for 2017 - it was perhaps not our finest year in existence, but I have to be honest - 2017 has been a great year. It's been tough, and challenging, it has stretched us further than we knew we could be stretched. It brought new opportunities, it saw doors close and others open. 2017 has taught me just how much we can be capable of if we are courageous enough to step up and take our turn.

 2017 was also the year that celebrated my thirtieth year on this planet. Thank you again, to every single person who helped to make my birthday wish an explosion of love. 

 In honor of this gift, this gift of thirty years, I thought I would share my biggest life learnings.

 1. Have Best Friends - Love Them Hard
The people we surround ourselves with make all of the difference. Make space for those who lift you up; be someone who lifts others up. Put in the effort to maintain the friendships that mean something, that serve you, and that fill your heart. Going through the best times, and the hard times, is substantially better when it's done with your best friends.

 2. Love, Live and Thrive Where You Work
If you are spending five out of seven days per week somewhere, it might as well be somewhere amazing. Similar to friends, surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you, who challenge you to grow, and try, and risk, and even fail. Let them in, let them know who you are and what makes you buzz. Let yourself be honest, strong, and kind. Connect your heart to your work. When you are doing something that is a part of who you are it shows, it carries it forward, and it becomes a joyful effort. 

 3. Lead With Your Heart - Trust Your Gut
For whatever reason, as we grow up we turn away from our feelings on things and we try to rationalize with numbers and data and other boring adult things. We have feelings for a reason - honor those feelings. They may not always be "right" but they deserve, at the very least, a conversation. Ask more questions, let it be known that something feels off or bang on, be grateful to your body for the instincts it has.

 4. Go for That Run (or walk, or workout)
It may seem daunting, or better to stay home under a cozy blanket, but trust that you will feel far better once you've honored your body and gone for that run - if running is not your jam please replace with your desired activity. Your body is a gift. It is capable of so many incredible things - move it - let it show you all of the incredible things it can do.

 5. Cry If You Want to
Or laugh, smile, listen, pout. Emotions happen, they are real, whether they are "right" or not. They always deserve to be acknowledged. This is not to say you should sit around all day pouting or carrying on, but recognizing how you feel and allowing yourself to feel it is often the best way to work through it. Sadness, guilt, happiness, anxiety - they all have a place in our lives and they all deserve a little recognition. Feel it, embrace it, work through it.

 6. Love is Always the Answer
Come on - you knew this was coming. In all things - let love guide you - in disagreements, in times of despair, in times of celebration. It starts with you - love yourself enough to be kind and understanding. Love yourself enough to treat your body right, fuel it, and move it. Love yourself enough to stand up for how you feel. And then let it branch out. Love others enough to be kind and understanding, to listen intently and really hear them. Love others enough to serve them, lift them, and care for them. Love others enough to respect their thoughts and feelings - filter disagreements through love, empathy, and compassion.

Here's to 2018 - and all of the love it has in store for us. 

 - lovefrommaria

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

That "Cop" is my Husband

Image
All too often I hear people complaining about the police. I hear them hating on them, cursing them and making fun of them. I know that not everyone does this but unfortunately it happens a lot. As the wife of a police officer you may think I am biased, and perhaps I am, but I also see things very differently than those not involved personally with a police officer. Everyday that my husband goes to work he chooses to put his life at risk to keep the rest of us safe. He has chosen a career that involves him missing bedtime with his children, missing important holidays and events with family and friends. He misses out on these things to keep you safe - to uphold the law that he believes so fiercely in. He chooses to strap on a bulletproof vest, every single shift, because heaven forbid, that be the shift that someone decides to attack him. He has worked so hard to be where he is, he has received extensive training and is equipped with tools to help and to protect him.  ...
Read more

D E V O T I O N

One word as a theme for the year.  D E V O T I O N To my faith - may it continue to grow and blaze, setting my heart on fire.  To my husband - my bestfriend, my partner, may we continue to love and respect each other with understanding.  To my son - may you continue to teach me things about life, and myself, that I have been so oblivious to.  To myself - may you hold strong to who you are, take time for yourself, love yourself and run. Mi fido di te.  And so I build this year on devotion. Intentional devotion in all that I do.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. -Romans 12:10 lovefrommaria 
Read more

Sleepy Stets

Image
 I found an old playlist the other day, "Sleepy Stets" it's called. I remember making it, it was going to be what I would play while my baby fell asleep at night and during his naps. It's a beautiful playlist, sweet country songs, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper and of course, Iz.  I couldn't help but laugh when I reminisced on the making of this playlist. Little did I know I was going to be blessed with a baby who defied all baby-sleep rules and regulations. A baby who went shot for shot with the best of them when it came to sleep. My Stetson.  Today is his first day of fulltime dayhome. It's a weird day. I've spent the last 20 months with this little person attached to me, first growing inside me for nine months and then always with me for the next eleven.  In two weeks my maternity leave (God bless Canada and our maternity leave benefits) will come to an end. I look forward to returning to my Cardel Place family, I miss just being ME and having other t...
Read more