Reflection time...

Thursday, September 21, 2006

As my 37th birthday approaches, I look back over the year and reflect on changes-- both postive and negative-- and I think I've grown tremendously. Man, it took 37 years for me to finally love myself and realize how valuable I am. I am finally at a point in my life that I love being me!As I enter each new decade, I find my interests, priorities and values change. In my twenties, it was all about the external me... the perfect hair, wardrobe, house, family. I found myself stressed beyond belief, not to mention the debt I accumulated. I lived to satfisy those around me and took no time to really figure out who I was or the direction my life was taking.

As I entered my thirties, my values began to change. I realized that family is important and I began to appreciate my parents, aunts, uncles and adult cousins. Of course, my children were important, but I began to focus more of what I was putting into them than what I was putting on them or buying for them. I realized that loving them meant teaching them values, not making sure they had all the latest gadgets and fashions.

As I start the journey to my fourties, I realize how important it is to be a complete person and how important it is to have a balanced life. When I find myself stressed, I look at what is getting too much of my time and energy and immediately regroup. To stay balanced I make sure I'm eating right, gettting enough exercise, enough rest, spending time with my children, feeding my mind, and my spirit. So many times I hear women say they loves themselves, but their actions speak differently. I hope my lifestyle is an accurate testimony of what I believe.I thank God for the people He placed in my life to help me make it to this point. There were times when I was angry and resentful, but part of my growth process has been able to view those as challenges and learning opportunities. I look back over the past 36 years and breathe a sigh of relief that I made it this far!