Twenty-Five

Twenty-five.

 Before graduating high school, I honestly thought by the time I reached this day, my 25th birthday, I would be starting my career, happily married, and have a little one on the way. At that time twenty-five seemed so old. By twenty-five I was supposed to have my life figured out. Period.

Well, here I am on my big day and none of the above is even close to being a little bit true.

Surprisingly, however, I feel okay about where I am at in life. A year ago, while celebrating my 24th birthday, I doubted I would survive to see my 25th year. But here I am, stronger than ever. Rather than worrying about where I think I should be in life, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to start over. I have the rest of my life ahead of me; this is just the beginning.

Needless to say, I have learned a few things along the way.
Here are my top 25 lessons learned over the past quarter of a century:

1. Always surround myself with supportive, uplifting people

  2. Self acceptance is the first step towards finding happiness

3. Maybe my parents aren't so bad, after all

4. Low fat/fat free cheese is disgusting. It doesn't even melt, it just gets more rubbery

5. No matter what the number on the scale is, it will NEVER make me happy

6. Don’t drive over 40mph if the roads are just a little icy. I wish I would have learned that before totaling my first 3 cars...

7. No amount of time spent with grandparents is enough
8. Aluminum foil cannot be microwaved

 9. Feelings are just feelings- they will not hurt me, they will pass, and sometimes we need to feel pain in order to appreciate joy

10. Don’t wash black and white clothes together 

11. Be grateful for this moment, it’s all we have 

12. Soak up some sunshine whenever possible 

13. My journey is just that- my own. Comparing where I am at in life to my peers is pointless

14. Rock bottom is a foundation for building a new life 

15. Bad things do happen to good people 

16. Giving is a million times better than receiving… unless it’s shoes 

17. Taste buds change. I never, ever thought I would eat frozen meals, let alone enjoy them 

18. A change in perspective can change everything 

19. Fear will try to stop me, but I’m learning to be stronger than my fears 

20. Laughter really is the best medicine 

21. Baseball isn’t the only sport people care about 

22. Take time to notice something beautiful everyday 

23. If something is bothering me, speak up! Don’t stuff your feelings, express them 

24. Over thinking will destroy me

25. Making mistakes is the only way to grow

 

Twenty-five years old and, thanks to recovery, my life is just beginning.

Progress.