YEAR 26

 I turned twenty-six yesterday, and if I'm being completely honest I was dreading it. I'm so close to thirty and I haven't accomplished the things that I wanted to by twenty-five. Before I know it, I'm going to be thirty and hoping I'm in the position I want to be in. I didn't plan anything for my birthday and wasn't expecting it to be special. For the first time I looked at my birthday as just another day. But when I woke up yesterday morning to so many text messages from friends and family and so many people telling me happy birthday, it put the BIGGEST smile on my face. I've learned that as you get older the desire for tangible gifts start to fade, and you dive into the other gifts in your life; friends, family, relationships, life and spirituality. I was showered with so much love and it was more than I could have asked for and so much more than I expected. My heart is so full and I am full of gratitude. I started this day dreading turning twenty-six and I ended the day excited to take on my twenty-sixth year.

I think of birthdays as a personal New Year, you're starting a new year of life and you get a chance to start new, if that's something you want to do. Every year for my birthday and at the beginning of the year I make a vision board or a list of goals. Things I would like to work on for that year, improve on, and I set goals I would like to reach. If you remember on of my first post ever on the blog at the beginning of the year 'Mark My Words'  was about my vision for the year. I've been doing this  for the past four years or so. So this year I decided to write a list of twenty-six things and I want to share them with you. Hopefully you will be inspired to do the same.
This list is a mix of goals and reminders to be the person I was created to be and molding myself into the person I want to be.

Here is my vision for my 26th year of life: "JUST DO IT!" (NO EXCUSES)

1. START ACTING ON THE THINGS I WANT TO DO. 
2. FEAR LESS, THEREFORE BE FEARLESS.
3. THE ONLY PERSON YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF TO IS GOD. 
4. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. 
5. EXPERIENCE LIFE IN NEW AND REFRESHING WAYS. 
6. LIVE MORE
1. Give yourself time to learn more about who you are. 
2. Be open to new and challenging experiences and opportunities. Even relationships. 
7. LOVE YOURSELF. 
1. Your mind, your body, every single thing and feature about you. 
8. LEARN SOMETHING NEW. 
1. Every day if possible. Never stop learning. 
2. Read more. 
9. REACH THE GOALS YOU'VE SET, THEN SET MORE. 
10. SHARE YOUR ART
1. Even when it scares you. 
11. STAY COMMITTED TO WHAT YOU LOVE.
1. Even when it's hard. 
12. TAKE YOUR HEALTH SERIOUSLY.
1. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. 
13. CHECK IN ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. 
14. SAVE MONEY!
1. This is a big one. Manage your finances better. 
15. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO FEEL. 
1. It's okay not to be okay. 
16. PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS OF YOU SHOULD NOT BECOME THE STANDARDS YOU SET FOR YOURSELF. 
17. STAY DISCIPLINED, BUT DON'T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF. 
18. VOLUNTEER MORE. 
1. Serve your community and it's people. 
19. FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. 
20. REMEMBER WHERE YOU COME FROM BUT DON'T DWELL ON THE PAST. 
1. Look forward to the future but live in the present. 
21. GROW IN YOUR FAITH.
22. DIG DEEPER INTO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
23. EVERYDAY, PUSH TO BE BETTER THAN THE DAY BEFORE. 
24. DON'T STOP BEING YOU!
25. WORK YOUR ASS OFF!
26. NEVER. GIVE. UP. 

BONUS: FIGHT FOR THOSE DREAMS GIRL! YOU'RE SO CLOSE!

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

Matthew 21:22

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Psalms 20:4