s each birthday comes around I get a little reflective, to where I was the year before and what I’ve done over the year. And this birthday has me feeling more reflective than ever. That’s understandable though, right?
I’ve learnt a thing or two along the way to getting here, with much, much more to discover as well. In my {almost} 30 years I’ve learnt:
♥ Life is what you make of it. I’ve learnt that it’s easy to be the victim. Well easy and hard, really. But sometimes you have to find a little courage and shake off the victim persona and empower yourself. I know that doesn’t happen overnight, but when it happens life is a whole lot lighter, and so much more beautiful.
♥ Sometimes it’s not just luck. Sometimes it’s more than that. My girlfriend and I both have wonderfully amazing husbands. We’ve met our soul mates, and we’re blissfully in love. We met our husbands around the same time, and people would say to us that we were lucky. And I guess we were. But it’s more than that. Perhaps they’re lucky too {to have us}. Perhaps it was meant to be. And perhaps we work hard at making it work, because we love each other that much.
♥ Self love will get you everywhere. As will self-belief. For years my fire was fuelled with self-doubt and self-hate. That’s how I worked. And then with hard work, and a flick of an internal switch I discovered self-love. Because if you don’t love yourself, who else can? I know that’s incredibly cliche, but it’s also incredibly true. Sure the self-love comes and goes… but even just knowing that I need it, is a giant leap in the right direction. Group hug.
♥ Sleep is a luxury. And boy did I take it for granted. I can’t see myself having good quality sleep for years, and years… decades even. And I didn’t realise that when I signed up to this parenthood gig that I was signing away my right to a good night’s sleep. But that’s okay. I can actually survive on very little sleep, and still function. It’s okay.
♥ It’s in the small things. The way her little hand wraps around my finger. The way I catch him smiling at me for no reason at all. The way the sun bounces off the water. The song playing on the radio at just the right time. Finding a coin on the ground and believing it be a sign of good luck. The way the man at the post office remembers my name, and wishes me well. The way my mum cares. The way the possibilities of a new day makes me feel. The small things is life are where the beauty lies… you just have to open your eyes to see them. They’re there.
♥ Make your own way. Sometimes there isn’t a right way, or a wrong way… there’s just your way. And if you’ve got a dream, somewhere you want to be, something you want to achieve… sometimes you have to make your own way there.
♥ Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.
Here’s cheers to years and years and years more learning, loving & living.
What have you learnt along the way in life?
Great post! And some really important things to remember in there as well. I particularly liked the first one, “Life is what you make of it”. Need to remember that one 🙂
I know I've still got a lot of years of learning left in me, but the big one that I've learned so far is this… Everything always works out for the best. Cliche, but so true. Even if it all turns to poo, give it a bit of time and things will eventually become even better than what they were before. x
Lovely post Chantelle. You have beautiful insight into this life we live….you have such a lovely soul 🙂
Love your comment about sleep….oh did I used to take it for granted too LOL ;o)
Life is what you make it & maybe that's the 'meaning' people are always seraching for!
Thanks for sharing this post ;o)
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Let's try that again!
We learn all the time – I think to sit back at the end of something challenging and work out what you've learned is not only cathartic but sensible!
I've learned not to allow those who thrive on drama involve me in it. I want a peaceful life.
By giving someone a genuine compliment once a day will not only make their day, but your own.
The important things in life aren't things.
Love it! What a perfect way to start the day!
I feel similarly about my relationship. The word 'lucky' gets bandied around a lot but after five years I think it's far more than luck that we have. And we are two states away from each other! It's just like everything else it's all about the hard work!
Blessed are our lives babe! X
Hi Chantelle,
I loved this post. It was very insightful. Aren't you clever to know all this and you're not even 30! Think of the years of peace, bliss,love and happiness ahead 🙂
beautiful – has brought a smile to my face. I agree with the 'little things'. I have been nursing a very sick little boy the past few days and through all the tears, crying, pain and scary moments, there have been fleeting moments of beauty – the way he reaches out to 'mamamama', snuggles into my neck, stares at me like I'm the only one who can fix it, and grasps my finger as tight as his little hand can manage. xxx
This is gorgeous Chantelle. Beautiful and insightful.
I don't think it's luck when we meet our partners….or anyone in our life for that matter. Call it God's will or destiny or fate or the planets aligning – there's something bigger going on. We meet everyone for a reason. Of that I'm certain.
xxx
Happy birthday. Happy all days.
these pictures are simply beautiful and so is this post!
xoxo
Olivia
This post made my day. You are so right about everything you wrote, and I can truly relate to all of them (except the parenthood part 😀 )
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Happy Birthday!
Besos..
Veronica
Ah, your blog is always such a sunshiney kind of place to visit on a grey old day. 🙂
oh so so true!!
I've learnt to love yourself and not compare yourself and most recently you need to ditch the people around you who try to drag you down, put you down, feel like nothing! it's hard to ditch negative people but gosh once you give them the flick and surround yourself with people who love you and think you're ace – well you're just a happy person and don't waste precious energy and thoughts on them! best thing I've learnt in a while!
Corrie:)
Beautiful write up Chantelle! Gosh I have learnt alot – I know that for sure. I think I have learnt most about other people and what they mean to me and my life. I have also learnt that even when you give them your everything you can be hurt …… badly. However, there are many things in my life I can be greatful for, just like you ….. from the small things to the big things! Life can change in just one moment – I have discovered that it's so important to stop and be greatful. Cassie x
This is sincerely the best post I've ever read. True words to live by Telle!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for summing up so nicely.
beautifully written…. you have learnt so much and i love that! i feel like ive learnt these things too but sometimes, in a dark moment… a moment of doubt, i need to hear the words from someone… i call you and you say all the right things! thanks for being an amazing friend xxx
Such a beautiful post, and just the reminder I needed today :o)
Thanks Chantelle
Cassie xo