Ten Lessons this decade
has taught me
As this past year comes to a close, in fact, this past decade… wowzers!! I reflect on the biggest lessons that I’ve learned in the past 10 years… In no particular order…. here we go!
1) Don’t keep doing something out of obligation when it doesn’t feel right. We’re blocking our true purpose when we do this.
2) It’s okay to let friendships fade. It really is true… friendships and people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. And just because we may not be close now, doesn’t mean that the future may hold more new memories!
3) No matter how hard it is to let go of the past, things that hurt us and held us back, we should not visit these things. Yes, it’s great to learn from them, but don’t let the past shape the newness in your life. Recognize what you learned, and put the lesson into action. The more we do that, the more we will let go of unhealthy patterns.
4) Don’t take things personally. So much easier said than done, but The Four Agreements are so dang spot on!! It’s true, we all are going through our own thing and if somebody doesn’t react or respond the way we want, let it go. Don’t assume that they’re trying to hurt you.
THE FOUR AGREEMENTS by Don Miguel Ruiz
5) Spend as much time with family as you can!! If you don’t get along, learn more about each other. See where in life, the brokenness came into effect. How can you learn, grow, and move forward? Life happens fast and the memories with your family are so dang valuable! Family doesn’t always have to be your biological / adoptive family. It’s the people in your life that become your family, your best friends, people who are there for you and you for them unconditionally…
6) Whether we believe it or not, there is a God who loves us! I ran from God for years. I didn’t want to know what He wanted for my life. I thought it would be boooooring…. And yet, when I look back at the very difficult times in my life, I see that He had never left me, He always provided, and was always there, even when I chose not to be with Him.
7) FORGIVE! In the course of life, there are people that let us down, that hurt us, that hurt the ones we love. What a freedom it is to truly forgive them, forgive ourselves, and unlock the shackles that kept us weighted down to our unnecessary baggage. I also think that forgiving others, frees them! They can begin to heal!
8) Our mess is our message, our brokenness can heal others. My biggest mistakes have become my biggest victories when I can see what I learned from them and through them.
9) God created us for a purpose. I don’t have to be a different person to fulfill the purpose that God put in me. He created me just as I am, in all my little quirks and idiosyncrasies, passions and ways. When I realized that, I truly found freedom!
10) There truly is joy amidst suffering! There is peace amongst the chaos! This past year, I saw that you can celebrate in the darkest of times, even when facing your biggest fear, even facing death. There is celebration, there is laughter, there is love, there is joy.
Thank you, Lord for these amazing lessons! I am not the woman I once was. I know without a doubt, that I am a child of God, and He has a plan for me! <3
