24

There is nobody in the entire world that waited to be this age more than me.

Compared to my other birthdays, there was little or no anxiety attached to it. I woke up feeling really good about myself. I woke up feeling grateful to God. I woke up filled with lessons from the past year. I woke up wanting to write on my birthday. Again. So here goes;

Here are 24 Things I Learnt In The Past Year

1.

am not my problem. I am not an anxious person, I deal with anxiety. I am not an angry person, I have anger issues. And so forth. And so forth. Claiming something as your entire personality or behavior makes it more difficult to shed It becomes almost insurmountable which is untrue.

2.

Nobody owes me anything. Not my family. Not my friends. Not my boyfriend. No one.

3.

If I want someone to treat me a certain way, I have to treat myself that way first. If I want respect, i have to respect myself. If I want love, I need to love myself first. And so forth.

4.

It’s okay for me not to like people but still be inspired by them.

5.

Embracing. a gratitude journal is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. You see things not just feel things. You are reminded of the good things happening in your life that you would normally sail over.

6.

My mind is everything. If Ify can conceive it, Ify can do it.

7.

Sometimes the problem is me. Sometimes I am the villain. Sometimes I am the one who hurts others. I’m not always the victim in the story. I’m not without faults. I’m not God.

8.

I am allowed to have expectations. As much as I understand that people do not owe me anything, I think it’s okay to expect certain things from certain people. It’s okay to expect that your childhood friend will come through for you when you need them. It’s okay to expect your family to be there for you always. And so forth. Expectations are a very human thing.

9.

It’s okay to care what people think about you, just not everyone. Be selective. You have to mean something to me for me to actually care about what you think. You have to know me on a deep personal level for me to care what you think. Why would i care about people who don’t really know me. People haven’t really seen me?

10.

Everything is not about me. I’m not always the main character in other people’s story.

11.

People are going to have something to say about you regardless of what you do. You might as well do you.

12.

It is better for me to be honest about my feelings than to be trapped in my own mind. Speak out.

13.

My fear of embarrassment is holding me back from a lot. Do it. Do it embarrassed and flustered. But just do it.

14.

Looking good is the best way to feel good about yourself.

15.

It’s okay for me to crave an uncluttered life. My. life does not have to be filled with so much excitements for it to be great. I don’t have to want what others want. I’m allowed to chose things that excite my spirit.

16.

I can make the first move if I want to. I can approach the brand I want to work with if I want to work with the brand. I can approach the guy I like if I want to get to know him. I can strike a friendship first, if I want to connect with someone. I don’t have to wait for things to come to me. I can make my way to them. If I want to, then I should do it!

17.

Do only what brings you peace and is good for your soul. Happiness is fleeting and can sometimes result in terrible consequences. If I ever have a choice to chose between peace and happiness at a particular moment, I will always chose my peace.

18.

Being in my comfort zone is a terrible terrible place to be at.

19.

I can have difficult conversations too. I do not always have to run.

20.

Fall in love. With the world. And the people in it. And myself.

21.

Life is too short to be getting touched by the wrong hands.

22.

It’s okay to let go of things and people you still love. Love is not everything. If something or someone does not serve you anymore or just houses bad memories, then I’m allowed to walk away.

23.

I can be loud in the softest of ways. You cannot put baby in a corner. I can be heard. I am allowed to be audacious. I can be daring. I can be a thousand women if I want to, do I want to?

24.

I am everything because God is everything. And HE lives in me. Lives through me. Will forever be with me.

Eating as much cake as I can today.