Happy Birthday to me.....

So this past week I turned 26, and I must say that is feels good. So often in life we get caught up in what we have to do. Our chore list grows and grows as we get older and rarely do we take the time to look back on our life and reflect on what has already been accomplished. So this week I took the time to look back and I must say, I was not sad about what I saw, I was even proud!
Where life goes from here is unknown....and I think I am fine with that because there is so much about me that is still unknown it seems to work out! What I am trying to say is that I am encouraged, I am excited and I have been challenged, the next 26 will be a good time, life is too short to worry about what I don't have or have not accomplished, it's time to celebrate what I have done and the possibilities that are to come in the future!

I've been listening to India Arie ALOT lately, it was a song of hers that encouraged me celebrate what has passes and look forward to what has come. Private Party. If you have a birthday coming up or just had one or even if it has been six months, get it, listen to it, and celebrate yourself, you'll love it!

I Choose...

Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.

Here am I now looking at 30 and I got so much to say.
I gotta get this off of my chest, I gotta let it go today.
I was always too concerned about what everybody would think.
But I can't live for everybody, I gotta live my life for me.(Yeah)
I pitched a fork in the road of my life and ain't nothing gonna happen unless I decide.

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose. (Yeah)
I done been through some painful things I thought that I would never make it through.
Filled up with shame from the top of my head to the soles of my shoes.
I put myself in so many chaotic circumstances, but by the grace of God I've been given so many second chances.

But today I decided to let it all go. I'm dropping these bags, I'm making room for my joy.
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.

I used to have guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.
From this day forward I'm going to be exactly who I am.
I don't need to change the way that I live just to get a man.
I even had a talk with my mama and I told her the day I'm grown, "from this day forward, every decision

I make will be my own." And hey!
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be courageous in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

Because you never know where life is gonna take you
and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.
I used to have guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.

And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.

-India Arie