June 21st I turned thirty. Thirty is a new decade for me, new chapter, new fresh start and one I can honestly say that I am ready for. For most of my followers you have kept up on my travels, life and even more recently my openness about needing to ask for help. To the people that are in my daily life you have seen me grow, become more fulfilled, happier and open this last year. I wanted to take the time I have to write this blog not only about the things I have learned so far in life but also thank the people in my life for having my back and loving me unconditionally.
Things I have learned
- Love with all you have and make sure the ones you love know because tomorrow is never promised.
- Don’t judge a book by its cover.
- Everyone goes through their own things but sometimes they just need someone to have their back.
- When someone opens up to you, listen. Sometimes thats the best thing you can do for them.
- Be unapologetically YOU, because 9/10 people in your life know the true you and are waiting for you to be ok with yourself.
- The people that judge you for being who you are aren’t really the ones that have your back in the end.
- Find out who your tribe/family truly is.
- I have lost people in my life that have meant more to me then they even knew. But everyday I try to make them proud.
- Be a good, faithful and true friend because when you hit your rock bottom you will need that in return.
- Travel! Experience life, different cultures, food and religions.
- Be a good human!
- Educate yourself. That doesn’t necessarily mean go to college it means get out of your comfort zone and learn more about the world around you.
- Find the confidence to be yourself.
- Find the courage to set boundaries to save yourself from things you don’t want to be apart of and know it is ok to have those boundaries.
- Tell people how you truly feel about them.
- Thank the people who are there for you.
- Smile at random strangers because it could change their day.
- Don’t say “I love you but…” to someone because it makes them question if you truly love them.
- Stand up for what you believe in because that is how the world is changed.
- Do something that scares you every now and then because it could be the thing that releases you.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- If you are missing someone tell them!
- Try not to worry about the little things.
- Enjoy life to its fullest.
- Dare to dream.
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because that is how you learn.
- Find something everyday to make you laugh. Laughter is good for the soul.
- It is ok to take time for yourself, because those moments are where you find yourself.
- Surround yourself with people who truly love you unconditionally and know when it’s time to let others go.
- Treat people with the dignity and respect you want to be treated with.
Those are my top 30 things I have learned within my life and some even recently.
Friendship
This last weekend I had a friend ask me “what does thirty look like to you?” That was a question I had never thought about until that moment and really until I sat down to write this post. Thirty to me is about living my life. It is about being free in my own skin. It is about loving, learning, bettering and being whole. It is about saying goodbye to the fears I have had in my life. It is about loving myself unconditionally. It’s about being a good friend, aunt, sister and daughter. It’s about learning more of what I love and knowing its ok to walk away from the things that I don’t. It is about breathing and actually feeling the world under my feet. It’s about taking the time to listen to the small things in life and soaking up the little things that get passed by. It’s about living and loving.
Some of my friends have told me that by the time you turn thirty you forget about what people think about you and you just live your life to the best of your ability. But we are human and we are always wanting to have approval but what I think does happen is that by the time you turn thirty you are more ok with who you are. You have made your tribe and know/hope they have your back which in turn gives you freedom to fly. I definitely can say that this year has already been that year for me. When I came out I learned who loves me, who has my back, who supports me through thick and thin and who doesn’t. I have been unapologetically me but I did the work to get to where I am today and couldn’t be happier.
I have friends who haven’t seen me in a while and they notice that the smile on my face isn’t forced. They say I have a sparkle in my eye. Well that true smile and sparkle is there because I am finally free from my own cage and truly living. Will I continue to have hard days YES because I am human but in the end I know I am loved, supported and truly cared for.
Thankful
When looking back at my last year and thinking about who truly saw the rock bottom, sad, anxious, lonely and unhappy me it was my roommate Alecia. She saw it ALL! Until last Friday I never truly realized just how much it hurt her to see me at my rock bottom. We were having a conversation about the person I was that day and truly how far I had come in my own self journey. She started to cry because there was something was posted on social media that we didn’t agree with and she knew that it had upset me. She looked at me and said ” I wish everyone could truly see how far you have come to be undeniably yourself and the best version I have ever seen you be. You have worked so hard to get to where you are today and it was hell watching you find and be ok with yourself.” As I watched the tears flow down her face it made me realize just how amazing she is. She literally helped me get out of bed somedays and always had a hug ready when I needed it. Words will never be enough because I truly wonder where I would be without her support.
My Dad, sisters, brothers and closest friends I thank you. I thank you for loving me through the ups and downs. I am thankful that I can say I have one hell of a support system behind me that knows me for me and loves me unconditionally! You also have seen me change and be the most honest, open vulnerable version of myself.
As I am a day into my 30s officially all I can say is Thank You! For those of you that stand beside me through the ups and the downs THANK YOU! For the ones who helped me through my rock bottom THANK YOU! For those that have been by my side for years THANK YOU because you have seen me trying to be the best version of myself and have helped me be me. This next decade is going to be an amazing one I can feel it and I am sooo ready for it!
Here is one of my favorite quotes at this moment:
“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that there was something wrong with me. I quit spending my life trying to control myself and began to trust myself.” -Glennon Doyle (Untamed)
Much Love!
Liz's Gypsy Journey 