26 Ideas I learned turning 26 years old while solo traveling in Rome!
WOW! TWENTY FREAKING SIX YEARS OLD!
At 10, I envisioned to be 25 with a doctorates, white picket fence house, a marriage and children.
Reality check: I am a single 26 year old solo traveling in Italy. Not a doctor. Not even close to having children or a marriage. (The internal struggle to get a doctorates just to say I can get one eats me alive almost everyday though)
Growing up, I have always believed as the universe gave tools to those around me whereas I had to use my barehands to discover and excavate my desires and goals. Again and again, what seemed easier for others felt much more difficult for me. (Go figures, it was!) Giving my power away diminished my whole self, relearning how to take my power back has been a pivotal! As I turned 26 half way around the world, I must say that I have definitely learned a lot about myself! Also, my very first time EVER leaving the country along with solo-traveling!
(Got my passport of April 2024 and booked a one way to Italy alone)
My birthday was truly a blessing! Thank you to those who wished my a Happy Birthday!
Here are 26 ideas that I have learned so far about myself that may hopefully plant little seeds to those who read this! :)
Comparison is the thief of joy. The only comparison I make is how I am yesterday!!
I can take a horse to water but cannot make the horse drink it.
THINK (thoughtful, helpful, inspiring, necessary, kind) Still working on this lmao
Life is a series of unconscious and conscious choices that I get to make. Living in reality suck balls but it doesn’t always have to. Taking my power back and deciding how I want to do my birthday for MYSELF has truly made me SO happy!
Demanding an apology from someone is not genuine. Most I can do is say “This hurt my feelings xyz” and have faith that the other party could make amends, if not then I let it go and move on.
Vitamin D vitamins are a game changer!
Organizing my relationships by categories.
I know what my intentions are at the end of the day.
Not to take everything so PERSONAL!
I have always been a sensitive person but I know not to take things so personal as everyone is raised so differently! My experience in Rome was ….. with racism and or prejudice but I genuinely complain, laugh it off and get over it. Ha.
It doesn’t matter if someone loves, hates, likes or dislikes me because at the end of the day, god loves me as I know in my heart I did what I knew best at the time!
I do not really have any regrets as I wanted it at one point of my life.
Projections and opinions are not the ultimate truths. Having discernment is! Staying open minded and taking everything with a grain of salt!
Going to the beat of my own drum. I can be an enigma at times haha. Let my actions show you, not my words.
Making new friends is not hard if I put myself out there in groups.
Making assumptions is ugly. I try to see beauty in everything, even a trash can! I think because of that, I do not really have anything negative to say about physical attributes lmao.
Smile and the world smiles back at you! I literally smile at everything and everyone.
Understanding what my values are and acting on them. It is a constant struggle!
Changing is SO hard! Making new habits is HARD. When someone tells me “they changed” I really have to take a double-take with my ear drums because I personally think that’s just who they were all along…
Taking everything with a grain of salt! Egocentric or self-confidence? Hmm..
Surrounding myself around people who are as motivated, hard working, visionary dreamers IS EVERYTHING! These are the people that inspire me to work hard, become the best version of myself and are so gracefully compassionate & forgiving.
Meeting relationships where they are at. Most of my years, I have tried pulling, helping, assisting those to get them where everyone can WIN..biggest lesson ever, some people are meant to be a loser. It is deciding whether or not I want to be apart of that or not lol. (sounds harsh but um yeah) The MOST liberating I have ever felt is when I allow people to do their own thing. It does not affect me whatsoever so eh. More time to think of my dreams and goals!
Being idealistic yet hating human beings. Honestly, I give this one to Jesus, I thought I could love everyone. Deep down I do but it is my expectations on others that leads to disappointment so like.. I am still learning this..? I feel constant gratefulness for my friendships! How blessed am I to have people who are so forgiving of me when I make mistakes.
I try to do everything with love, not for love. Redefining love is a war zone in my life. Right now, love is an action and choice. It is a commitment that I choose everyday. Because of that, I truly can not say I love everyone. My love is not big as Jesus, unfortunately. Hm, or maybe I do love them but at all different levels. Right now, I love someone at a 0.01% versus someone else at a 10%.
Living by “SHOULDS” is UGLY!
People who view vulnerability and kindness as weakness will hate on you. To be honest, I never thought I had ops in my life till the past two years. LOL
Staying present. Journaling everyday has been life changing!! Saying on mantra a day and sticking to it as a way to ground and recenter myself.