When I turned 20, I became pregnant – pregnant with dreams, goals, visions, and aspirations for my life. I’m truly grateful to God for the future I see.
Looking back on the past 344 days of being 20, I realize that it has been filled with significant personal growth and transformation since my teen years. I’ve dealt with some major life events this year, and I’m very proud of myself.
At 20, I made sure that I showed up for myself in every waking moment, even when it was hard, especially when it was hard.
These are some of the noteworthy achievements of my 20th year…
. I maintained peace with the things I made peace with as I let my teen years go last year.
. I ended a toxic friendship that I suddenly realized I did not have to keep up with, and I did not look back.
. I learned to respect my boundaries, both within myself and in my relationship with others.
. I made a 4.5 GPA in the summer semester.
. I am thrilled to finally be with someone I can see myself getting married to. Being with him is transforming my perspective on love and relationships.
. I started listening to a podcast on the psychology of your 20s and it’s given me a bird’s eye view of adulthood.
. I can better recognize and understand Spanish sentences as well as my mother’s language.
. I got my first job and my first paycheck. I paid my first tithe and I got a little something for some of the people that I care about (this is the one I’m proudest of🫶🏼).
. I donated blood for the first time, to a cancer patient. Although sadly, he passed away. (God rest his soul).
. I started writing a book that I may or may not publish when I become a wife.
Before reminiscing on these past months, I felt like I had not achieved anything tangible.
However, these little but not-so-little things have impacted my growth in a grand way this past year. My hobbies and interests have started to look different and I’m completely okay with that.
As I turn 21, I’m going to put more pressure on myself. I’m not going to worry about having a lot on my plate when the goal is to eat.
As I turn 21, my biggest fear shifts from flying cockroaches to the fear that I will be held back by a life crippled with domesticity and haunted by the regrets of not pursuing my dreams and goals. I worry about ending up living life through my children’s achievements or silently supporting my spouse from the sidelines, without ever pursuing my own aspirations. My greatest fear is becoming like a church signboard that points others to their destinations but never gets to enter it.
So I’m going to work hard and make sure that I create the kind of future living rent-free in my head.
This new year is for personal healing, academic achievement (as I will be graduating from university this year- yayyyy), career establishments and skills acquisition, spiritual growth, and character development.
This year, I’m going to love myself better and be more intentional about my life, the people I allow to be in it and the people I choose to share it with.
Hello 21, let’s go!!!
Betterthanlife 