I’ve been 26 for around a month and half now, and I always like to take my birthday as an opportunity to reflect. So, I wanted to share 26 thoughts with you today:

+ looking back I didn’t give my mom the credit she deserved as a parent

+ as a pre-teen, young teenager, I really wanted to grow up

+ don’t be so quick to hate where you’re from

+ knowledge is power

+ take care of your body

+ my parents set me up to be an entrepreneur

+ travel, get a new perspective

+ finding gratitude each day leads to a more positive existence

+ be nice to people

+ keep an open mind

+ don’t settle, job, relationship, friendship

+ eat your veggies

+ learn about your body

+ don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you admire

+ having more doesn’t equal being happier

+ journal, write, document your life

+ don’t compare yourself to others

+ you can learn anything you want

+ spend time with your family

+ a child’s imagination is a magical thing

+ money is not the enemy

+ stand up for what you believe in, but educate yourself along the way

+ failure is inevitable, but it’s not the end

+ your job doesn’t define you, who you are as a person does

+ getting out into nature is important

+ treat everything and everyone with kindness and compassion

To be honest, I thought this list would take a long time to compile, but each thought came to mind one after another, and before I knew it my 26 things were here.

In the end, take the time to stop, step back and reflect on life.

It’s a beautiful thing.