Twenty Five Candles

Dress: Sara Berman, Shoes: Yves Saint Laurent, Bag: BCBGeneration, Necklace: Spike The Punch, Ring: Forever21, Lip Pencil: NARS.

The quarter century birthday is finally upon me.

I won’t lie. The impending date was much more stressful than it actually feels, now that it’s here.

Being 25 means not only getting a discount on your insurance and being able to rent a car, but looking back, it’s the time that I actually felt like I would have my life together.
Even before college, I thought at this age I’d have the house, the car, the husband and maybe even thinking about children.

How wrong I was.

Yeah, I am a lucky girl and have a few things crossed off that list but, now being 25, I wonder, “Before I am thirty will any of these things happen for me?” “Should I even worry about these things?” (And yes…I ask myself a lot of questions on the regular).

Yet 24 was probably my most influential year yet.
If I could sum up the last year in a few quotes and phrases my year would go as such:

“Not everyone will appreciate what you do for them. You have to figure out who’s worth your kindness and who’s just taking advantage.”
“The reward for work well done, is the opportunity to do more work.”
“The right man will love all the things about you the wrong man was intimidated by.”
“When things go wrong, don’t go with them.”
“Say Yes, and you will figure it out afterwards.”

I would never be in the place I am today if I never took a chance, dated the wrong guy, went on spontaneous trips, turned down opportunities, lost friendships, and gained a few.
I would have never realized my limits, worth, morals, or self determination.

With that being said, twenty four, it’s been real.

If I can do everything I have already done and learned everything that I have within the last year, I can’t wait for this year, and the next 75 to come. (As if I’m even going to make it to 100. Modern technology right?)

I am so grateful for the opportunity to live this life and pursue everyday as a challenge to be a better me.