It’s My Birthday & I Am Grateful!

Some hard years, some amazing years, some lost years but a life lived without regret.

Nevertheless, it’s still such a crazy feeling to look back in time and see how much you’ve grown.

I wouldn’t change a single event along my course.

They’ve all taught me something about myself and brought me to where I am today!

Here are few life lessons along the way!

1. Invest on skincare: It doesn’t matter if you do the 7-step skin regimen or the 21 steps just as long as you take the time to take care of your skin. Do you know why they’re so damn expensive? Because they work! Investing on your skin is also investing on yourself for the long term! Forever young right 😁

2. Sunscreen: Not only when you go to the beach or visit the desert, but apply sunscreen daily and generously. Sunscreen helps prevent premature aging.

3. Quality over quantity: Having a few real people in your life is better than having a handful of fake ones. Remember that.

4. Take risks in life and in love: What’s a life without risks, you know ? Do it. Take that first leap of faith or you’ll never know what’s in store for you. Make your life a good story to tell or a marriage to enjoy 😄

5. Travel as far as you can and as often as you can: I can’t emphasize how traveling is still changing me in several different ways. It makes you modest. Travel opens your mind and you get to realize how tiny and how small you occupy a place in this world.

6. Learn when to say NO: Such a short word that only consists 2 letters and yet the hardest thing to say. Learn the art of saying no and to learn when to say it without feeling guilty. You need to know how to respect yourself enough to decline the things you don’t want to do or be part of!

7. We are stronger than we think: Don’t ever believe you won’t be able to move on and pick up the pieces, because you will. Every nerve and fiber in your being will help you pull through. Give yourself time to wallow in misery but know when to stand up and move on.

8. Know when to let go: If it becomes toxic in your life whether it’d be a job, a vice or a person, you have to stop and let go. Sometimes by walking away, you’re moving forward. Trust me. Everything will all fall into place when you let go of something that doesn’t give you happiness.

9. Don’t sell yourself short: You are beautiful. You are worthy. You are deserving. Stop believing that you’re not capable enough to achieve great things in life.

10. Try to understand that sometimes, you wont always get what you want in life; but rather, you’ll always end up with what you need. And in time, you’ll realize it was what you’ve always wanted ultimately.

11. Stop comparing your life with other people: You don’t always get to know what lies behind close doors. Wherever you are in life right now, know that you’re going to be ahead of some people and behind others. Know that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Sometimes, its just grass. Stop comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle.

12. You accept the love you think you deserve: Knowing what you deserve is a step closer to getting what you actually want and not settling for anything less than that. Be with someone who treats you like a priority and stay with someone who likes you at the same time. Remember, that you accept the love you KNOW you deserve.

13.You don’t go out as much: Home on a Friday night with your pjs on while binge watching shows on Netflix? Best idea ever! Gone are the days where you need to party every drunken weekend. It’s not required of you to be present in all of the crazy gigs out there. And you know deep down, it takes awhile for you to recover after a big night. You deserve some peace and quiet and to let loose on your couch while bawling your eyes out on another heart wrenching episode of what you love or just read your fave book 😉

14. Be grateful wherever you are in life: The endless blessings and opportunities you’ve received in your work and in life is always something to be thankful for. Appreciate the people who helped you grow. These are the ties worth keeping. Accept the bad with the good and know that nothing is permanent.

15. Change is inevitable: Change is the only thing in this world that doesn’t stay the same. It looks differently on everyone. Some accept change with ease while others do not. And as you get older, change happens more frequently even more than what you normally like.

16. Be ready to fall in love: It happens more often than not and usually on those times you least expect. It is the best kind of love where you don’t plan on it. You don’t just pick someone and hope and pray it will work out. No. It’s the kind of love that right from the very start, you know it’s different. It feels different. It feels right. It is right. Be ready to fall in love with someone whom you can’t imagine your life without! 😍

So here’s to me, birthday girl. Here’s to me and the life I have. Here’s to the life that left me long ago, that was never mine to have. Here is to making more memories and growth!

Here’s to darkness, light and the choices I made. Here’s to the sadness and here’s to happiness as well. I’m so happy for all the experiences life has offered me! Here’s to me and my birthday. Happy birthday to me!