I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)

Wow, today I turn 42 years young!!!  Thank you for sharing this day with me! Looking back at my life and what these 14,952 days have taught me has both it’s draw backs and advantages.  Unfortunately, there is no way of looking at one’s life without looking at both the happy and sad moments.  You know like the birth of a child, the weddings, the graduations, the promotions, and pay raises, the purchases of a home or car, all the major accomplishments but there are also the funerals, the failed relationships, the jobs that were lost, the credit card debts and the bumps and bruises along the road.

I guess there are different ways at looking at things…  Being a Latina immigrant, life didn’t always come on a silver platter for me, it was more like a borrowed platter or a thrift store platter, however we all have some kind of platter that our life comes on.  I believe that my life in whatever package it came in was the one that God designed and planned just for me.  Now, I can either mope about what I didn’t have growing up or what I don’t have in my life today or I could celebrate the things and people that I do.  I know, I know you’ve heard this stuff before however, our lives are all unique so your experiences will never match mine BUT the way we approach life can.  We can either look at the glass half full or half empty.  We can either celebrate and enjoy the people in our life today or dwell on the people that we lost.  We can either be happy with the way we “turned” out thus far or feel defeated as we compare ourselves to someone else’s life.  I say no more insecurities, laments or fears but welcome to uniqueness, individuality, boldness, courage and celebrations!!!  I say welcome 42, I welcome you with open arms and with great expectations and anticipation at what God is going to do and the people that He is going to bring this new year into my life.

Today I celebrate me And remember to….Just Breathe!

 Reflection Corner:

1.)    As you approach another year of life what “one” thing would you like to change?

2.)    What area of your life are you most happy with?

3.)    Do you have a mission statement that you live your life by?  If not, consider writing one out.