Twenty Fine and Fabulous!

Quarter of Century of Living!

Twenty Fine, Twenty Five, 25, a quarter, two dimes and a nickel, half way to 50. Today, July marks 25 years God has blessed me to be on this earth. I thank God for allowing me another year of life to improve myself.  If I had ten thousand tongues I could not praise him enough for keeping me a quarter of century. I am so blessed, grateful, and ever so faithful. I have learned so many lessons about life, love, forgiveness, faithfulness, giving, service, over the last twenty five years. At 16 I thought at 25 I would be married with children. Here I am, a year into my career in a new state, single, no kids, with a cute little dog. Life is good. God is GREAT! I can not complain about the process and road taken to get where I am.
From 24 to 25 I’ve learned to forgive, to love myself for whom I am, strengths and weaknesses, scars and flaws, and that I serve a God of a second chance. When I didn’t think I could make it through the hard times of being alone in Texas, God comforted me and told me I wasn’t lonely. When I didn’t think I could live up to my potential at work, God stretched me gave me more visibility and an articulate tongue. When I didn’t think I could manage my new income stream, God helped me budget to become debt free. When I didn’t think that I was capable of being in love, falling in love, receiving love, giving love, God told me that he loves me and he cares. When I didn’t think my faith could be tested more, God pushed, bended, and stretched my faith in him. When I didn’t think I could do this, do that learn, grow, believe, make, mold, flourish, God created in me a clean heart, renewed a right spirit within me. I’m embracing what 25 has to offer. What new lessons, new victories I will overcome by faith.
So, here are my 25 things that I have learned in no particular order.
1. Forgiveness sometimes starts with forgiving yourself. Mary Mary “Forgiven Me” is my testimony. “I never ever want to press rewind never want to go back in time, not much glory in that story, but its mine, now I’m loving who I am today. Past has passed away, I have finally forgiven me.”

2. If he is interested he will call. Sending a bbm, text message, gchat, doesn’t count. If you really want to get to know me past how I look pick up the phone.

3. Find a side hustle.

4. Smile and say hi.

5. Extend your hand when greeting someone. Shake it firmly and look them directly in their eyes.

6. Being liked and respected is what will make you most successful. Learn to be likeable but stay humble.

7. Don’t ask to do something. Tell them respectfully.

8. Guard your heart, but be open to giving and receiving love. You deserve all the desires of your heart.

9. Date with a purpose.

10. Learn to relinquish control issues, let the man take the lead.

11. Forgive and give people second chances. God gives second chances why shouldn’t you?

12. Do things by yourself. Start with movies, dinner, then vacation alone. You will be fine, if you don’t love spending time with yourself how do you expect someone else to love doing the same?

13. Perception is reality. Seeing yourself in others eyes.

14. Networking is key to building lasting relationships

15. “When someone shows you who they are believe them the first time” Oprah by way of Maya Angelou

16. Letting God choose and to follow his direction. His choices are prompted by infinite wisdom and love.

17. Do what you love and you will find someone who loves the same thing. Don’t look for love, beg for love, and suffer for love. Just Live

18. Communication is key to any relationship/friendship.

19. Learn to compromise.

20. Never apologizing for your feelings.

21. Being alone is not being lonely.

22. Short sounds confident. No need for a long explanation of why, how, what. Keep it short and sweet. Short sounds confident and it takes more effort and thinking to communicate your point.

23. Don’t apologize for unintentional errors. Never apologize for wrongdoings. I learned this the hard way, because your supervisor will not have a pity party for you. Your response should be "I recognize the mistake and will make the necessary revisions to solve the problem" Never apologize for unintentional errors

24. Just because he looks good doesn’t mean he is good for you. There is nothing worse than dating a man who is sexy but you have absolutely nothing in common with him and the conversations are a bore.

25. Read, read and read some more. You should be able to hold a conversation about everything. Reading is fundamental and a key to being successful. Better yourself through reading.

(BONUS) Visibility and value is what makes you successful. Boost your visibility and increase your value in the workplace and you will get pulled through that glass ceiling.
Happy Birthday to Me!

Keep the Faith!

Until next time,

~E