<--- So, this is what 26 year old me looks like.
I've said it time and time again: the wonderful thing about personal blogging is that you can tangibly track your growth. It's strange though... because it seems like every year's birthday blog is an eery foreshadowing of what is to come. Last year, for my 25th birthday, I wrote:
"God is not through blessing me. This I know for sure. AND every bad, filthy, ugly, unsavory, messy, hurtful, heart-shattering thing that has happened (and will happen) is part of God conditioning me to be the strongest, brightest, most-capable individual possible. In every storm there is a blessing.... and I'm more grateful than words could possibly express."
My 25th year was one big storm... and, at the end of the storm, I am able to say that I am still tremendously blessed. Anyway, every year I make a list of things that I learned, so bare with me.
THINGS I LEARNED IN YEAR 25:
1. Femininity is power. [[Someone in my life calls it "the power of the p*ssy" lol]] Don't judge me just yet. It's just... I've been such a rebel all my life. And part of that rebellion was saying that I won't wear pink, or makeup, or keep my hair too long. I've been anti-girly. But there is something empowering about keeping my hair done and throwing on some mascara before I run out the door. It's an unexpected confidence boost. And now, I can't get enough.
2. Family over everything. This kinda goes without saying for people who know me. My family is honestly composed of the best of the best. And, while I love my friends, my family holds me down in a way that no one in my life ever has. I realize that not everyone is as blessed as me in this capacity... and I'm grateful.
3. "Real G's move in silence." I don't need to say much else, but I will. Lol. One very important thing I learned in year 25 was that you can't tell everybody your every move...especially when it comes to success. I, personally, tend to tweet A LOT. And, as a result, people tend to think they know everything about me. But I know what things to keep to myself, and I do. I'm learning to discern experiences that arise from people's perception of my online persona from those that arise from people genuinely knowing the complete me. This blog, those tweets... they're only a tiny taste of who I am. At the end of the day, I let my life speak for itself.
4. I am a boomerang. It doesn't matter how you throw me. I turn around and I'm back in the game. And I'm better/stronger/wiser than I was before. In other words, I'm a resilient little bugger. They say you don't know your strength until you've been through something that you thought would bring you to your knees. I'm here. I'm strong. I survived.
5. I LOVE me some me. I probably write some variation of this statement every year...but I don't know that it's ever been as true as it is at this very moment. I've struggled with finding my voice. I've struggled with my weight going up and down. I've struggled with trying to cater to other people's insecurities. And, in some cases, I've admittedly dimmed my own light. That's not love. Loving yourself means pursuing your best self tirelessly. I'm doing that now. And I'm proud of that.
I have no idea what year 26 holds in store, but man oh man... I'm ready. I appreciate your birthday wishes and your continued support, my readers, my loves...
xoxo
Nadia
...gratuitous photos... ;-)
