I normally do not make a big deal about my birthday. I treat it as any ordinary day- maybe a dinner or something along those lines. In fact, last year, for my 21st birthday, I went to my night ministry class and then went to BJ’s with Jon-Paul and had a mimosa. I’m just super chill about it…
NOT THIS YEAR, BOO BOO!
I have waited for 6 years for this day. You see, I am what some would call a Swifty. I have a slight obsession with Taylor Swift’s music. I love her music because I have always been able to connect with it. “You Belong with Me” was the anthem I sang to my middle school crush when he fell for my best friend. And “You’re Not Sorry” was the song I cried myself to sleep to when he broke my heart. “We Are Never Getting Back Together” was the song I would scream in the car after a clingy ex wouldn’t leave me alone. And “Fifteen” was the soundtrack for my freshman year of high school. I even got to go to her “Speak Now” tour for my 15th birthday, and cried with my mom when she played it. Every song has had something that I was able to connect to except for one. I’ve only ever listened to it twice in the 6 years it has been around. It’s off of my favorite record possibly of all time, and I have skipped over it every time is has started to play. That song would be “22”. It just didn’t feel right to sing about “feelin’ 22” when I didn’t know what that felt like!
Well honey, the day has finally come, and I am truly feelin’ 22! To commemorate that, here is a list of the 22 things I have learned during my 22 years here on earth.
- Gods got you. This is pretty much the basis for everything else I’ve learned. It means that everything will work out- not because of ANYTHING you do, but solely because of who He is. He is trustworthy, loving, kind, all knowing, all powerful, and I my wants what’s best for you. Surrender to Him, and you will go places you never could have even dreamed of
- Speaking of dreams- have big ones, and never stop! I love to dream up new dreams. I love to get so crazy with them and try to think of the most wild, unimaginable things to do or places to go. I want to change the freaking world! And you know what? I’m going to do it!
- Listen. To. Yo. Mama. And yo daddy for that matter! I wish I had done more of this in those teen years. I always semi dreaded telling my parents my problems because I knew they were going to give me advice that was the complete opposite of what I wanted to do. And in the cases where I went with my own advice, I was usually wrong. Now I literally call my mom like 3 times a day. For help with the stupidest things!
- Savor the moments that seem insignificant. There are so many moments that in the moment seemed so insignificant or menial, but I look back on now and they are some of my fondest memories. Road trips with my family- I’m talking DAYS and WEEKS in the car with my crazy family, or times when we had just moved into a new house and had little to none of our stuff yet- we made the most of those moments and I cherish them so dearly. As Andy Bernard once said “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good ole days before you’ve actually left them.
- Take advantage of the time you have with your grandparents. My grandma passed away this year, and it was a huge eye opener. We were close and talked pretty often, but I was left wanting so much more. To a degree, i think that is the case when anyone passes, but this was something I had never experienced. I inherited all of her knitting supplies and realized i had never asked her to teach me. It still breaks my heart, but has made me cherish the time i have with my grandparents who are still living.
- Life is so very fragile and short. This is beyond cliche, but it goes hand in hand with number 5. You never know what tomorrow will bring. Make every encounter a meaningful one.
- Love like crazy. I love the Message Translation of Ephesians 5:1-2. In fact, it is my inspiration for this next year of life.”Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” I love that last part- He didn’t love in order to get something from us, but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. Love like that! Be passionate with your love. Don’t expect anything in return! Love simply because you are loved. God loves you regardless of what you do or who you become, so love others in that same way. Regardless of your race, beliefs, ethnicity, sexual orientation, how you’ve been wronged, who’s hurt you. Love regardless.
- Forgive quickly. Unforgiveness is like a cancer. It send out roots of bitterness and anger and deceit. Nothing good can come from it! Be quick to forgive. Don’t hold grudges.
- Learn to love yourself before you try to let someone else love you. When you do this the other way around, your worth become rooted solely in the other person, and that’s not fair to you or them.
- Don’t follow the crowd. Learn to think for yourself. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you discernment is the decisions you make. If it just so happens to be the popular one, cool. If not, see number 1.
- Always smile at people you walk by. You never know what that person is going through. They could have just received terrible news, lost a loved one, or be considering taking their own lives. Heck, they could have just had a plain old crappy day! So use those 26 muscles it takes to smile and flash those pearly whites- it makes you feel good, and could just make someone’s day
- Put your phone down. At dinner, with friends, or just in general! Be engaged with your experiences and in the world around you. It’s so big and beautiful and full of life.
- Don’t be in a hurry to grow up. You are only a kid for such a short period of time! Live it up! And heck, even once you are a “grown up”, allow yourself to have fun.
- Take pride in the way you look. Looks definitely aren’t everything, and they aren’t the most important part of who you are, but God made you to be beautiful or handsome, so take pride in what he’s created!
- But focus more on the inside. This is what truly matters! Check your heart, renew your mind, and allow God to mold the best version of you possible.
- Value friendships. This is something that has always been such a huge priority for me. I value friendships so much. I look at each friend as a gift God has given me to help me get through life, so why would I want to be flippant in how i treat those gifts? Be intentional- go out of your way with your friendships.
- Don’t be afraid to set high standards. For yourself, people you allow in your life, or things you want. It’s okay to set standards. It doesn’t make you arrogant, it makes you smart.
- At the same time, don’t get too caught up in your own pride. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. This is one I’m still very much working on! But you don’t have to do it by yourself!
- Get. A. Mentor. Have someone you can come to with anything. Someone you know won’t judge you, and will stand by you through thick and thin. Someone who can relate to you and advise you. This should be someone you trust and respect implicitly.
- Just do it! Take the leap of faith. The Bible says that faith without works is dead. If you only have faith for your dreams to come true, it’s not going to get you very far. Take the first step- pray, seek Godly counsel, and just jump!
- Shake it off! I know, I know, but I just had to include another T-Swift reference! Haters gonna hate, players gonna play, but at the end of the day, none of it matters. Do you, boo boo, do you!
- Last, but certainly not least, understand the power of the God that lives in you. He is a conqueror, so you are a conqueror. He has no rival, so you have no rival. He calls you healed, so you are healed. He calls you loved, so you are loved. Nothing that anyone could ever say or do to you could measure up to the might God you serve. No person, no circumstance, no attack from the enemy is a match for our God!
Today is also a special day because ELK turns 1! I have so many amazing things planned for this year that I cannot wait to share with you. Thank you to my faithful readers for a great first year! I know God has big things in store, and I am so appreciative of you bearing with me through the rough parts of the first year.
I hope this has left you smiling and ready to chase some dreams, call your mama, and trust God like never before. I love each of you dearly! Gonna go dance the day away with my bestie, T-Swizzle
XOXO
ELK
Emily Louise Keller 
I’m pretty late for this but Happy Birthday 🙂 All your lessons are gold.
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