Chelsea’s 26th Birthday

My thoughts on turning 26.

Milestones have a way of making us re-evaluate the past, make goals for the future, and look to how we are in the present. I personally love milestones. I love self-reflection and evaluation and seeing where I have excelled and have room for growth.

This past year has gone by so fast. I am sure that is going to be a common theme as I get older: the years going by faster.

As I look back on this year, I would like to break it up into in 4 categories: professional, physical, emotional and spiritual.

Professional

This past year I have changed jobs, but still remain with the same company and am still in the same general location. I enjoy my job, but would still like to find ways to challenge myself and possibly use more of the skills I learned in college (teaching, training, leading, communication, etc).  While I do not have any set goals, I am feeling very hopeful with the projects I have taken on recently and can’t wait to see what other opportunities arise.

Physical

Unfortunately, this has gone a bit backwards this year. Since I switched jobs I became more stationary which happened around when Zach got hired on with his job so we both started eating out more. The past 6 months have been difficult with some emotional and professional things, causing me to fall off track with my health and fitness.

However, I have signed up for my first 5k in June and have been training for it the past couple of weeks. I hope to be able to run it competitively (not just for fun) and make this into a habit during 2019. I think that since I have firm goals and friends along side me, this will be a good year to get back on track. I hope to check back in next year and give an update on my running improving!

Emotional

This past year has been a bit odd. It started off pretty consistent with emotions. However, once October came my emotions started taking weird turns. I think there were a few outside influences including the weather change (lack of sunshine…), a new work environment, and comparing myself to other people. The last one is something I have always struggled with, and probably will continue to struggle with. I am always trying to see where I rank with others my age, education level, etc. and it is the WORST habit ever.

Recently I have been noticing when I have these thoughts and what seems to trigger them, and that seems to have been helping quite a bit. Now I notice when I am comparing myself to another person, and try to shut it down before it spirals out of control. I’m hoping that this year I will find my contentment in Christ, not in life achievements and that I wouldn’t allow myself to sabotage relationships because of my envy or self-doubt.

Spiritual

During my 25th year, I felt very content and happy. I was learning to love my new city, new job, new church, and make new friends. I felt contentment in Christ, but also a hunger to know more grew this past year making it a very stable one spiritually. Until this past Fall, when we received some disappointing personal news, I felt on track in all areas of my life. Since then, it has been a bit of a struggle trying to not question God’s plan and continuing to believe he is sovereign in all things. I do believe it, there are just times when it feels hard.

To combat the doubt, I have been reading through the Bible with some friends. It has only been a couple of months, but reading a couple of chapters a day and reading in context, has been life changing and just so helpful. My hope is to check in next year and say that I had read it the whole way through and even decided to read it again.

Thankful for 25

There are so many things I am so grateful for from being 25… I am thankful for Zach and his incredible self. He is so loving and patient and encouraging. I am so thankful he found a job that he loves and is happy being here. I am thankful for new friendships that have been made this year. Friendships to challenge me, encourage me, and help me grow. I am also thankful for our home and how we have been able to embrace the large space by having people over at least twice a week. I love hosting and hope to see it continue to grow and flourish in the future. I’m also thankful for all of you for tagging along on this simple blog. 🙂

With all that said, here’s to 26 and more adventures to be had.

Much love,

Chelsea