30 Truths I Have Learned in 30 Years

Happy Monday! It’s a new day and a fresh week. Thank you so much for all of the birthday wishes already…it isn’t my birthday quite yet, but I am of the opinion that birthdays last a month as opposed to just one day. Don’t worry, you’ll know when it is the actually day – you’ll see fireworks light up your computer (just kidding…but you will know, I don’t really let it slip by unnoticed.) I celebrate birthdays because I think they are beautiful! I’ve lived one more year in this beautiful life. I am learning new things each day, God-willing, getting wiser and experiencing more of what this world has to offer.

So far in 30 years I have:
-Seen 6 provinces of Canada
-22 States of America
-Travelled to 14 Countries outside North America
-Worked or volunteered as a Vet assistant, Waitress, Cook, Caterer, Camp Counselor, Bank Teller, Account Manager, Cashier, Enrolment Counselor, Music Ministry Coordinator, Waterski instructor, Horsemanship instructor and Wrangler.
-Married a man better than I could have ever dreamed of.
-Birthed two beautiful children.
-And have now added Cambridge, UK to my list of residences.

All these experiences have taught me many things and revealed many truths about me, the people I meet and the world we live in. I want to share just a few of them with you. So here they are, 30 truths I have learned in 30 years….

1. God is Real. More than that, he loves you and wants a relationship with you.

2. To give people the benefit of the doubt. It may come back to burn you, as it has me…many times, but I am glad I assumed love instead of hatred.

3. Water and Duc tape fix almost anything…not together.

4. You must invest in friendships. While some start out with chemistry they require cultivating and tending

5. Nobody is perfect. That is why there is forgiveness.

6. Forgiveness does not run out.

7. When criticized, you must exam the critique, find the truth and throw the rest out.

8. Only you and God are authors of your story.

9. Everyone has a voice: to use for good and to promote truth, or to destroy and tear down.

10. Complacency is not an answer.

11. Life is not a business. It’s not about getting ahead, for the road has but one fate. Instead it is the quality and fullness of each day that matters.

12. We are not called to depend on Man but to depend on God.

13. Not everybody will love you, in fact, some people may really hate you and you’ll never know why.

14. We all fail. At some point or another we fall and we must pick ourselves up again, dust ourselves off and carry on.

15. Love is choice.

16. Expectations are over-rated. My Grandma hangs a plaque on her wall that says, “He who expects nothing, shall never be disappointed.”

17. There will always be somebody smarter than you, better than you, more beautiful than you…but remember they are not you, and you are irreplaceable.

18. In this life there are mountain top experiences but the valley is where the water is.

19. In this life you will meet many people who need a little (or a lot of) encouragement, so give it freely.

20. Someone else is not going to come along and fix your life for you.

21. Loving someone does not mean you agree with everything that they do or how they choose to live. It means that you recognize that they are made in the image of God and deserve to be loved. Tolerance is a stupid and confusing word as is inclusive.

22. Build your foundation with the truth but build your house to let the breeze blow through and the fresh air in.

23. There will be times when someone will try to hurt you but chances are they are hurting more than you so give them grace.

24. Never discuss anything of importance after 10pm. Thanks Grandpa

25. You get what you pay for.

26. It’s okay to be angry. But give yourself time to settle into rational thought before acting foolishly out of your anger.

27. Creation is of God made for the benefit and nourishment of humankind. Therefore it is beautiful and meant to be cared for not simply consumed.

28. There is such a thing as compromise…someone doesn’t have to be wrong just for you to be right… I still struggle with this…in fact don’t tell my husband I just said that.

29. This life is beautiful, each and every little detail and it is meant to be shared.

30. Everyday is a fresh start to the rest to your life. What will you do with this one precious day?

I am excited to see what my 31st year of life holds in store. I have caught glimpses of what will fill my time and dreamt of where we might live but it really is a mystery. A beautiful Mystery and I trying my hardest (because goodness knows the unknown is not always easy) to look forward with an open mind and an open heart.