30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30

In just two weeks, I'll be turning 30. My 20s have been the years I will never forget. I experienced so many things in different areas of my life. I got married just a few days after my 23rd birthday, I had my two youngest kids in my 20s and completed my family, and I met some of the most amazing people in my 20s. I also experienced panic attacks for most of my 20s while suffering with anxiety. In my 20s I had a near death experience after my daughter was born. I also experienced homelessness and losing everything I had. I lost my grandmother, went through a grueling heartbreak and suffered with depression. In my 29th year -- I experienced restoration of life. 

As I enter my 30s, I still have a lot of questions, but I'm looking forward to what's ahead. Here's what I learned in my 20s:

1. Walk. There’s no need to rush everywhere. Stop and smell the roses.
2. Talk. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
3. Quality > Quantity. 
4. Don’t doubt yourself.
5. Death sucks & grieving is a process. Allow yourself to heal. 
6. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
7. Change is necessary. Adapting is essential to life.
8. Love yourself before you try loving anybody else. 
9. Thing are replaceable but memories are forever.
10. Don’t allow anyone to get you out of character.
11. You won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Hey, some people like coffee.
12. Stop being sorry for everything.
13. It’s okay to be vulnerable, but don’t let anyone play you for a fool.
14. Learn to cook...because ordering out every day is costly and wack.
15. There’s nothing wrong with doing things alone. Time waits for no one. Go check out that movie. Book that flight. Explore and have fun.
16. No. The most powerful two letter English word.
17. There's nothing like family. 
18. Coffee is life.
19. Exercise. Keep your blood flowing and your body moving.
20. Take a fun class. Yoga, cooking, Zumba, painting. Try it and enjoy!
21. You’re gorgeous!
22. Put the cell phone down and interact.
23. Clutter sucks. Clean out the closet.
24. Credit is important. Pay bills on time. Bad credit will hit you harder than you think.
25. You are stronger than you think.
26. Learn to walk in a pair of high heels. I promise you’ll feel sexier than you already are.
27. Cleanse. Tone. Moisturize. A skin regime is so important.
28. Being in a relationship is hard work. It requires a lot of compromise and communication, but it’s worth it.
29. Love exists.
30. Don’t change for anyone.

What are some things you learned in your 20s? What things are you still learning? Feel free to share. :)

Facing Our Shadows

Loving yourself is purposely finding your shadows, breaking them open, and letting the light shine through the cracks.

There are some people that we cross paths with and although you don't speak to each other all the time, the connection won't ever be broken. Eliana is one of those people to me. We meet some years ago (around 2011 or 2012) and we clicked and connected. We've seen the growth in each other throughout the years, and I still admire her. Had my life taken a different turn and I didn't start a family at a young age, I probably would have been traveling the world with her -- never staying in one city or country too long.

Eliana is a lover of life. I enjoy following her travels, reading her blogs, checking out her Facebook statuses. She's genuine, witty, and really has a heart for people and purpose. She has so many strengths, but just like me and you, she has weaknesses. Sometimes our weaknesses disable us. Sometimes we idolize our weaknesses and forget how strong we really are. We become blind to our purpose and we forget who we are.

Eliana recently posted two blogs entitled "Facing Our Shadows (Parts 1 & 2 respectively). Please take a moment to click the link to her blog below.

"Shadows are the dark parts of us. They are the parts of us that we don’t know about or pretend are not there. Shadows occur as a result of not expressing or processing our feelings or as Dr. Shefali states, “the shadow is the house of all unintegrated feelings of childhood.” When we are growing up, most of us are not taught to be vulnerable.  We are not shown to say “This is hurting me. I feel sad. I am angered by this situation."

Facing Our Shadows (Part One) - Eliana Reyes 

It's Fall, y'all!

"The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let dead things go." -Unknown

Fall is here and it's bittersweet. I love the summer and I bask in its glory. Once mid-August comes around, I quickly start to miss the warmth of summer and the smell of neighborhood BBQs. I even being to miss scent of sunscreen along with the pungent smell of bug spray. There's nothing more fun than family time during the summer when there are so many things to do and so many places to see.

And here comes fall -- where the days get shorter and the nights get longer. As temperature change, the leaves follow suit. It's a season of transformation, a season of change.

So what am I doing this fall? I'm letting go of the warm summer nights and visits to the beach, the smell of zeppoles frying at the fair, the sound of Mister Softee driving down the street. But, I am also letting go of any negative thoughts that have lingered in mind -- self-doubt, insecurities, toxic relationships.

The leaves are changing and so am I. 

They withstand rain in the spring and soak in the sun in the summer.  They change from green to burnt orange with a touch of amber in Autumn and fall in time to keep themselves away from the cold winter. They are ever-changing. They don't complain when it's time to change. This fall I am encouraging myself to continue to change to a stronger, better me-- to continue to thrive even when things are changing around me or when others want to be cold towards me or try to rain on my parade.

This season I am going to continue to fall in love with myself, with my passions, with my life.