This week, I turned 34. It's hard to believe how quickly the years are starting to go by. One of the challenges I find in life is to not get bogged down by negativity. I've been talking with a couple of friends recently about recapturing joy and focusing on the simple things in life. I've said before that the little things are important, and taking the time to notice and appreciate all of the little joys and gifts in this life can go a long way to change your attitude and reframe your thinking. In fact, the Bible even tells us to focus on the positive. Right after giving instruction on dealing with worry and anxiety, God instructs us to set our minds upon the on the good things in life:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." -Philippians 4:6

It is in that light that I am going to share, for my 34th birthday, 34 of my favorite things - many of them everyday things that bring me joy and make me smile. Peruse through my list, then tell me what makes YOU smile!

For the past couple of years, I've started a tradition where I write a post near and around my birthday. It started when I turned 30, with my 30 Life Lessons, then last year I focused on 31 Proverbs, or nuggets of wisdom. This year, I wanted to take some time and focus on 32 things that I'm thankful for now that I've completed 32 years of life.

I guess this is what 30 looks like!

Today, I turn 30. It doesn't really seem possible; the past 8-10 years have simply flown by. I remember when 30 seemed old; I don't feel old now -- not to mention I still get regularly mistaken for a teenager!  

It probably helps that Tom (and most of my friends) have preceded me into this next decade of life.  However, throughout this year, recognizing it was the last of my 20s, I began to do some self-reflection. I've had three decades of life granted me thus far -- what do I have to show for it? Have I made the most out of the time and talents given to me? What have I accomplished? What have I learned? 

This last question got me really thinking. Since the name of this blog is derived from my desire to be constantly learning, it seemed apropos to do a post in honor of my 30th birthday with 30 Life Lessons I've learned along the way. 

You'll notice some of these lessons already have related blog posts -- click on the links to learn some of my expanded thoughts on the topic. Many of these lessons have been derived from books, sermons and conversations, in addition to experience -- I've made an attempt to link to or list out some of the quotes, but my apologies for any references that may have been missed.

30 Life Lessons

1. Listen before speaking. Listen to understand, and seek to understand before seeking to be understood. Really listening means more than just waiting for your turn to talk.

2. In anything worth doing, you will have trials and challenges. Don't give up just because it's hard. 

3. Learn from the past, plan for the future, live in the present. Dwelling on the past and worrying about the future are unproductive endeavors. Let your mind be present and engaged in the "now" lest life just pass you by.

5. Control your thoughts or they will control you. Worry, anxiety or other dark thoughts can be consuming. If you don't keep them in check, they will take over.

6. Peace is active, not passive. God calls us to "seek peace and pursue it" -- not to idly stand by and avoid conflict.

7. You have to let go of the past to take hold of the future. Don't let your past dictate your future. Find freedom in letting go.

8. Never underestimate the power of a kind word. If you're thinking something nice about someone, tell them. Let others know they've been on your mind or what things you appreciate about them. Simple words of kindness can turn someone's day around.

9. Bloom where you are planted. No one gets the life they want but you get the life you have -- make the most of it. 

10. Don't settle for what is good instead of striving for what is best.

11. Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity). Humility is the opposite of selfishness. It's concentrating on the needs of others instead of your own desires.

12. Allow others the same grace you allow yourself. We often judge others by their actions but ourselves by our motives; we should allow others the same grace we allow ourselves and endeavor to see the best in people. Assume the best in others rather than assuming the worst.

13. Have a flexible plan. Goals, plans and ambitions are good, but you need to be willing to reroute when life throws a detour.

14. Life is more fun when you leave room for spontaneity.

15. Joy comes from concentrating on what you have; not on what you don't have. The greatest opportunity for joy lies in taking hold of that which is in front of you. “Every joy is beyond all others.  The fruit we are eating is always the best fruit of all.”  – C.S. Lewis, Perelandra

16. Life is an adventure. Every good story has some sort of conflict.  The hard parts are what make the story worthwhile, and, perhaps, so it is with the stories of our own lives.  The challenges we overcome can also be the greatest victories and the most important formative moments of our lives.

17. Our greatest strengths are often also our greatest weaknesses. Being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses allows you to be more effective in the task at hand.

18. Sometimes God calls us to give up our own rights. Sometimes we have to lay down our own lives for others. 
19. Pride is disgraceful. It breeds pettiness, arrogance, judgement and selfishness.  Quiet pride, underneath the surface where it can scarcely be seen may be most dangerous of all.

20. Not knowing what to do is no excuse for doing nothing. Better to try something and fail than to never try at all.

21. Learn to ask good questions. Knowing how to ask good questions drives more meaningful conversation and can allow you to draw others out. It also helps you think through problems and find solutions.

22. Our actions prove our beliefs. “The best indicator of my true beliefs and my true purposes are my actions. They always flow out of my mental map about the way things really are. What I say I believe might be bogus. What I think I believe might be fickle. But I never violate my idea about the way things are. I always live in a way that reflects my mental map. I live at the mercy of my ideas about the way things really are. Always. And so do you.” -- John Ortbert
23. Personal responsibility. Be in charge of your own destiny. Do not rely on others to do your work for you. Take responsibility for your own actions and inactions -- don't be a blame shifter.

24. We are each uniquely gifted. Our talents and abilities are gifts. Learn to appreciate what others have to offer, and don't look down on someone just because they are not gifted in the same way you are. We are each responsible for doing the most with what we are given and for using our talents wisely.

25. Sometimes sins of omission are greater than sins of commission. Failing to do something "good" can be worse than doing something "bad". “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.”

26. Don't take life or love for granted. Appreciate what you've been given in each moment. Find something to be grateful for and show your appreciation for others. Every. Single. Day.

27. Put Your Hope in God alone. Things of this world and even the people who love us most will sometimes let us down. In Christ alone we have a hope that will not disappoint.

28. Allow others the joy of giving to you. Receive all gifts with grace and thanks, recognizing that the giver is blessed as well as the recipient.

29. The more you know, the more you know how much you don't know. This goes for both my professional and personal life. You'll find the same trend in the history of science: just when we think we know almost everything, a new discovery is made that brings more questions than answers.

30. Never stop learning. There is always more to learn and room to grow! Ask the hard questions. Think in new ways. Stretch yourself. Be amazed at all there is to know and let new learning, insights and discoveries never cease to fill you with wonder.


While I may have learned the truth in these lessons, it will take many more years to learn how to properly apply them and live them out. There are more days than I care to admit when I am not the person I want to be.  If God grants me another 30 years on this earth, I will endeavor to spend them growing in these life lessons and more, striving to build character and integrity, and learning to love more truly and deeply, as God works in me to help me become the woman he created me to be.  
Thank you to all of my friends and family who have been in my life thus far and have encouraged me, supported me, loved me, and impressed on me these truths. And a special thanks to my husband, Tom, who loves me and encourages me daily, even through my failures, and who truly brings out the best in me.  Let us continue to grow together in love and life. "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17)

In light of that and #30 above, I'd love for you to share in the comments below some of the biggest life lessons you have learned!