Ready the confetti, my birthday is here! Yay! Getting another year to enjoy life made me realize one thing – there isn’t a day in the year that prompts you to take a more serious look at your life than on your birthday.
I know it’s easy to use our age as a gauge of how we’re doing in life. I had an interesting realization lately – type any age on Google and you’ll find endless articles on what you should and shouldn’t have at a particular point in your life.
“How to Have Zero Wrinkles at 45!”
“How to Get Your First Million at 30!”
“Here’s What You Need to Have at 50!”
It’s tempting to make comparisons, but I know it’s just going to take away my gratitude for the added year in my life. Instead, I’d like to close one chapter and welcome another with my birthday reflections for the year – and years! – that has passed.
First, gratitude. I consider myself blessed because of the gifts that money can’t buy – my good health, our family, my children, and my husband. It’s been two decades that Allen and I have been together, and I am so grateful to enjoy a love that’s like wine – stronger and sweeter through the years. We’ve met at a very young age – I was 17! – and though it’s not common to meet your soulmate so young, I’m thankful I did. To this day, it’s been a pleasure to see how much our love, trust, and respect towards each other have evolved.
Second, motivation. I’m a hustler, but I feel like, despite everything I have accomplished so far, I’m just scratching the surface. To be honest, I don’t always share my goals and ambitions because to some, they’re a bit lofty. When people hear how serious I am with my goals, it could sometimes get a bit awkward. But I guess there’s no stopping this Virgo! One of my biggest goals for my new year is to be my best self and to live my full potential.
Third, fulfillment. It’s a choice – a tough one, I must say – to make every day. Over the years I have learned what true fulfillment is – I feel most fulfilled when my heart feels fulfilled. That no matter what other people say, the ultimate determinant of how fulfilled I am would be my own heart.
Fourth, dealing with ambiguity. If 25-year-old Latoya saw the way I’m responding to sudden changes, she would be stunned. I used to be a mega planner who gave no allowance for grace. That has changed through the years. I have made so much progress dealing with pivots, changes, or results that don’t go quite as planned. Disappointments are easier to come back from now as opposed to 10 years ago — I also call that growth.
Fifth, that I am favored. My favorite Gospel song is Hezekiah Walker’s “God Favors Me.” To this day, I still get goosebumps whenever I hear it. I know that I am favored, I’ve been given a lot of grace and mercy which I thank God for every day. I’m still yet to achieve some of my goals. Despite that, my heart brims with satisfaction. I have now realized that this life is a journey. Sure, I may not yet be at my destination, but God has favored me with so many mercies that are making me enjoy the journey better.
How about you? What are your most recent birthday reflections?
Xoxo, Latoya Smith