Episode XXV

Hi, my friends! It’s been a minute. In my head, this is the 20th blog I’ve written because I always say “oh, I am going to write about this” but I never actually end up doing it because maybe I get busy or just don’t feel like writing.
But if you’ve been reading my blog over the years, you know that I TRY to do a recap of the year for my birthday. Well, unfortunately, today’s blog will be a bit different. Today, I choose to talk about what 25 thought me.  So hang on for the ride!
 

Turning 25 was a dream come true. Celebrated in grand style in NY with my sweet family and then joined my best friend for her family vacation and ended up going to Canada. 25 started as an adventure.  I can see now how it was just setting the mood for the year to come. Months went by and things started falling into place, prayers were being answered, difficult moments in the family were being met with resilience, to say the least things were changing.
As I sat back yesterday reflecting on what God had taught me at 25, I realized that there was one thing that stood out the most. That one thing was to embrace self-care. Self-care in the sense that I embraced being okay with not being okay. I don’t want you to think that I was a control freak and freaked out when things were not okay, but embracing self care means to me to know the limits in which you are willing to give yourself, to know and learn to say no, to make choices that seem hard but lead to great results. WHATEVER that means. My colleague Dr Brooks thought me this saying ” Hard choices lead to great results, Easy choices lead to hard results”. I find this so true. I can say that this became my motto this year. I understood that I would have to make hard choices but in the long run, it would be for my benefit. 
I  had to learn that if a friend treated me like less than what I deserved, I had to walk away. I had to learn that as much as I gave my poured into something, there was always going to be a lack of appreciation. I learned that saying “NO” means saying NO and the need for explaining is not necessary because I know why I am not saying YES. I learned what it feels like to have so many people around you, but not for you. I learned that I have incredible friends who care for me and my family. I learned that even a simple word of encouragement is enough to carry you through difficult times. I committed to not settling in anything I do. I learned/put into practice that my allegiance and my loyalty was to God and not men, so wherever He placed me I served as unto Him. Which leads me to my favorite verse 1 Corinthians 10:31 “ Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”. I continue to embrace that I have been called for one purpose, LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE. 
These are only a few things that I have been thinking about recently, but if you truly want to know and understand the work God has done in me this year then buy my book for 22.99 on Amazon in May 2021, with every purchase you will receive a signed copy of my book. Hahahha, jk. Just ask me over coffee or Sharetea #notandad.
 
I am incredibly thankful to be on this earth at this very time. If I am still here it means that God still has things for me to do. SOOOO Avanza!! There’s no time to waste.
Thank you so much for reading.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
XOXO,
26-year-old Natalie