Thank you Lord for another year of many, many blessings and great health! I am thankful and grateful for everything, including the lessons that came in abundance.

It's no surprise that as you get older the reflections just keep piling on and piling on. So, on my birthday I thought I'd come up with a list of things that I would tell my younger self if I could.

And wow, let me just say that I thought this would be hard, but I actually could've added more!

Alright, here we go ... in no particular order.

1. Save money as soon as you get your first job. Increase the percentage of savings every time you make more money.

2. Be in the moment when you're visiting with friends and family.

3. Don't get too serious with a young man until you're done with college.

4. Treat your body with kindness and be mindful of your food choices.

5. Talk to your elders and inquire about things that matter when you become a teenager, as you may not get a chance to later.

6. Repeat #1 ... You're going to want to travel. A lot.

7. Don't let anyone crush your dreams. You will find that there are some bizarre people who don't have any dreams and goals, so they will do their best to extinguish yours.

8. Learn how to kiss early and properly.

9. Get your rest, and yes, that really does mean at least eight hours per night.

10. Moisturize your skin every morning and night, paying special attention to your face and neck.

11. Face your fears sooner than later, as they can paralyze you.

12. Pick your battles wisely. There may be many, and you can't fight all of them.

13. Learn all you can about your heritage long before you reach high school.

14. Always be aware of your surroundings. Stay woke.

15. You must say something if you ever see a kid disrespect their elders.

16. Do not eat farm-raised salmon.

17. You may decide you want to drink wine every day. Don't.

18. Laugh at something every day even if it's just you laughing about reminding yourself to laugh today.

19. You're a Pisces so live near the ocean as soon as it calls you.

20. Volunteer your time and try to be of service to others.

21. Don't allow people to waste your time.

22. Make a living doing something you're passionate about. No exceptions.

23. Repeat #1 again. Saving is critical to how you want to live your life.

24. You love to write, so do it every day.

25. Embrace your mistakes/missteps as they are part of the journey and really valuable to your growth.

26. You will learn a lot of lessons early in life. Pay attention or you might miss something.

27. Become a great baker. Your mother and grandmother will love it.

28. Read voraciously and never go too long without visiting a library no matter how advanced technology gets.

29. Try to be nice to people. You never know how you'll affect someone's day.

30. Once you become an adult, life decides to do a ceremonious sprint so enjoy every minute of your youth.

31. Watch more documentaries and less movies/sitcoms. 32. Listen to the blues ... it will teach you quite a bit about life.

33. Repeat #1. You really need to save a lot of money. Life is expensive.

34. Dance in public the way you do in the mirror at home.

35. Identify the people who bring out the worst in you and swiftly remove them from your life.

36. Someone will break your heart one day, and it will feel like the worst thing ever. Just know it won't always hurt so much.

37. Practice patience. People will test you and this character trait will come in handy.

38. Don't eat chitterlings no matter what your grandmother tells you.

39. Tell your parents you love them often.

40. Embrace your physical imperfections. Your feet aren't spectacular, but you must prop them up on the table and twirl them around in the sand anyway. Life is too short.

41. Never stop saying your prayers before bedtime.

42. Cherish and nourish your friendships--new and old.

43. Repeat #1. Hopefully you're realizing it is essential to save money.

44. Choose your environment wisely and recognize what's best for your mental and physical well-being.

45. Always exercise and incorporate meditation into your daily routine.

46. Don't date men whose time in the mirror far exceeds your own.

47. Become fluent in Spanish before you reach college. It will dramatically increase opportunities for you.

48. The sun is your friend, and the snow is your enemy. Plan your life accordingly.

#reflection #life #birthday #youth #family #love #sun #ocean