OVERALLS \\ BIB \\ BINKY \\ DRESS similar

Happy 4th of July [weekend]!

For those of you that don’t know, July 4th is my birthday! And this year it was my 30th birthday, which I still cannot believe sometimes. This year was spent much differently than years before. It was spent holding onto my little lovey, John! I can remember last years 4th of July so well. I spent the week at the beach with my husband and friends, staring at my teeny tiny (basically non-existent) baby bump, eating snacks on the beach to help calm my morning (afternoon, evening) sickness, wondering what my little lovey will be like.

What a difference one year can make!

What a difference 30 years can make. I look back on my life thus far and see the challenges I faced, some I failed at and some I conquered. I see the love I gave, the love I was given. I see the love I sometimes didn’t give out, and the love that sometimes wasn’t returned to me. I see the time well spent, I see the time wasted. I see the chances I took, I see the opportunities I missed out on. I can still hear some of the best laughs of my life, and some of the worst cries.

But mostly when I look back, I can see how everything got me to this point in my life now. And I couldn’t be happier.

30 Life Lessons By 30 | For My Baby Boy

My husband and I the other day were staring at John in such amazement and thinking how much of his life he has ahead of him. He’s only 5-months-old. I have 30 years on this kid (OK, 29 years and 7 months, but who’s counting?). This idea got me thinking about my 30 years and all the things I have faced so far: the loves, failures, changes, travels, jobs, friendships, heartbreaks, joys.

I want him to know the lessons I have learned over the past 30 years, and hopefully, he can hold on to them, learn by them, and make the best out of his life. I want him to know it’s OK to make mistakes and fail, but it’s never OK to settle in love or hold onto anything that makes you unhappy. Most importantly, I want him to know he can do anything — with hard work. 

Love

Love is everything. Never avoid falling in love out of fear of getting hurt. One day you will probably get hurt, maybe even a few times, but it will be worth it. The love you felt will be worth it. The path it will lead you to will be worth it. If I had never taken chances on love and allowed myself to fall in love over and over again, I would never be where I am today. In love with my life, in love with you.  Don’t ever be afraid to fall in love again. 

Never settle in love. If you aren’t 100% sure, then it’s not the end-all relationship for you. Never settle for less than what you deserve. If the love isn’t being returned or you question your own feelings, move on. Don’t hold back how you feel; express your emotions. Whether good or bad, always let the people you care about know how you feel.  But remember to always be kind. Kind with your words, kind with your actions. 

Take the time to not only fall in love with people but with life! Fall in love with as many things as possible. The world is full of beautiful things to love if you take the time to look around. Above everything else, love yourself. If you can’t love yourself how can you love another person? How can you truly love life? Start with yourself and love will blossom all around you. 

Happiness

Life is truly whatever you make it to be. So, choose to be happy. Easier said than done, I know that. If you’re feeling unhappy, look at your life. What’s causing your unhappiness? Let go of what makes you unhappy, whether that’s people, jobs, or something as simple as reading too much negativity on social media. Focus more on what makes you happy. 

There is something good found in every day. Even on your worst days, you can find something to be grateful for. Take the time to focus on the things you are grateful for every day. At night, before you go to sleep, remember the things you are grateful for on that day. Even if you can only think of one thing, focus on that. Train your mind to see more of the good rather than the bad. 

Say YES more to the things you truly want to do. Don’t be afraid to take on new opportunities out of fear of failing. It’s OK to fail, you can always try again and again. Only fear the regret you will feel with the chances you don’t take in life. Stop doubting yourself, take on new opportunities with the confidence that you will succeed. 

Confidence

I truly believe confidence is a mindset. How do you have a confident mindset? Set yourself for success every day by feeling your best. Do the things that help you feel your best — when you feel your best, you feel the most confident. For me, it always starts with self-care. When you feel confident, you feel like you can do anything you want! And you truly can do anything you want, with hard work, of course.

Find your passion in life and don’t let it go. When you are truly passionate about the work you do, you will look forward to your work; instead of resenting it. And should your passions change throughout your life, (which, if you’re like me they certainly will) you can change your story at anytime. Just because you thought at one point you figured out what you wanted to do with you life doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind. Don’t ever be afraid to change your mind. And don’t feel bad if you don’t know what you want to be “when you grow up.” You don’t have to figure everything out by a certain age.

Speak up for what you believe in. Don’t always rely on the opinions of others, especially when it comes to your happiness and well-being. Be confident with your own thoughts and opinions and don’t be afraid to share them. Be open to hearing differing thoughts and opinions from others without criticism.  

Everyday Life

Be present. Don’t heavily dwell on the things you can’t change from the past, and try not to stress yourself out over the unknown future. Learn to be more present and you will notice an increase in your happiness. Spend more time outside, it’s an easy way to practice being present. There is so much beauty and tranquility in nature. Having a bad day? Take a walk or simply sit outside and breathe in fresh air. (It’s hard to get you inside as a baby, and you are ridiculously happy)

Play more and play often. Have fun with your life. Playing and being silly isn’t just for kids. Surround yourself with loved ones that you know you can always be silly and have fun with. Spend as much time as possible with those loved ones. And even if you can’t physically see one another often, take the time to reach out and keep those relationships strong. 

“A day without laughter is a day wasted“- Charlie Chaplin. One of my favorite quotes to live by; absolutely laugh every day. My dad gifted me a book for one of my birthdays and wrote this quote in it for me. Such a sweet and important reminder. Whether alone or with your loved ones, make sure you find time every day to laugh. 

Keep your mind sharp. An easy and fun way to help keep your mind sharp: write every day. Keep a daily journal, start a blog, or have a gratitude journal that you write in each night or morning. Along with writing, read every day! Books, news articles– whatever sparks your interest. Read and share new ideas as much as possible. 

Most importantly, enjoy your life!