The day before you turn 26.
September2
I’m still getting used to this new medicine, which happens to give me nightmares all night every night, so I’m a little too tired to write a post. How about you write it instead?
If you could go back in time (or, for some of you, into the future) what would be the main thing you would tell yourself the day before your 26th birthday?
I think I’d go with “You’re still going to love going to farms to see baby animals, even when you’re an adult.”
What about you? Comments are open!
I think I would tell myself “Just because you may not be exactly where you thought you would be in a few years doesn’t mean your life isn’t purposeful or worthy. Be okay with a different version of perfect.
p.s. – the baby is going to kick your body’s butt. think about working out a little more”
Dear Self,
You ain’t seen nothing yet. The worst and the best are yet to come. Hold everything loosely except for your God…and in that case, hold on tight.
I would say live life to the fullest. Don’t fret about what the future holds as far as relationships and such…..YOU have an amazing life and LOTS of special realtionships at the present time. Prince Charming will appear when the time is right, and oh yeah…..HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy every day of your life and never worry about when things will ‘all fall into place”. I love your blog and think you are an amazing role model for these little girls.
Spend less time worrying about the status of your waist, and more time working on the status of your heart.
I would tell my 26-yr-old self that the best is still yet to come… it won’t always be easy (in fact, sometimes it’ll be downright difficult!), but it’s well worth the fight!
Don’t be so afraid.
Take risks.
Love is worth it, even when it ends eventually.
Hold tightly to Jesus. Through all the good and bad times to come, He will be your best friend, but you need to work on making that relationship a great one.
Worrying isn’t worth it.
Embrace every moment.
Happy (early) Birthday, Amy Beth!
1. Take a deep breath and quit stressing out.
2. Enjoy the terrible two’s… they will be gone in a flash.
3. Quit taking yourself so seriously all the time!
Even when some days don’t seem like it, every day is worth it– Worth living for Him.
“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.”
1 Chronicles 16:8
You’re going to have serious morning (all day) sickness on your next birthday (and the one after that, too!), so you need to enjoy the birthday cake this year. Don’t worry — you’ll still fit in that wedding dress in a few weeks.
?”Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never been seen.” — Robert Bresson
Happy Birthday Amy Beth!
The day before 26. Almost 7 years ago. Bern married 3 months. Living in a cute little apartment. Still getting used to sharing my space.
I think I’d tell myself that things wouldn’t go as planned, but it’s okay. I am taken care of. I’m not a practicing therapist. We bought and sold the house we thought we allways wanted. I’m not where I thought i’d be then – geographically, financially, professionally, family-wise – but I’m still happy. My heart has broken. Multiple times. I’m still okay.
And that’s what I’d tell myself.
You will be okay.
Or maybe I’d tell myself to go ahead and try shrimp and pecan pie and pimento cheese because I will like them. I’d somehow convinced myself that I hated all of them until I turned 30. That would probably be just as life-changing.
Happy birthday
I would say, “You don’t have a clue what you’re doing and that’s okay. Just enjoy the ride.”
I would tell myself to just relax and enjoy the moments I am in, because life will change drastically in just 2 years. I would go from single and no guys on the horizon, to married, with 2 babies, in just over 2 years. I think I would tell myself to work out and make the most of my pre-baby body because it’s really hard to look great now! I would also tell myself to be open to new ideas and take more risks, and not be boxed in by the ideas I was raised with.
Happy, happy Birthday, Amy Beth! You have so many people reading your blog who love and care about you!!!
Happy Birthday Amy Beth!
I don’t really have any advice, because I’m not that much older (okay, maybe a little older…..5 years), but I hope you have a great day.
26 was a long time ago. I don’t remember what I would tell myself.
It was a very long time ago, for me. But I would remind myself of Ecclesiastes…..’there is a time for everything’. A time to be 26 and whatever I was at that time. Be happy and enjoy where you are in life. Make the most of what is your life today, because it changes very quickly. My life, at 26 looked very different from yours, but no matter the age, you MUST enjoy and make the most of it. God gave you life, and put you in the place you are today. Be thankful to HIM, even for the difficulties, from which we grow.
I’m going to be honest here …. my 26th birthday was not long ago (as in 4 days ago not long ago) and I didn’t handle it well. My poor poor hubby. He woke up to a raving lunatic that didn’t leave until much later that day.
However, now that I have all the wisdom of being 26 and a little perspective, I would say this: just because birthdays haven’t lived up to your expectations before this doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of this one. Your birth is worth being celebrated and it’s ok to go the extra mile.
Girl, been thinking about you and praying for you ALL summer!!! Miss chatting with you!
Praying your birthday is fantastic and God takes your breath away with sweet, tender surprises all day!
I would tell myself that I will still love watching Little House on the Prairie and to just chill and relax about life.
You are absolutely precious and I pray this year is full of healing and joy and great peace for you!
Lots of love!
Happy Birthday Eve! I will be praying for you to get some sleep.
My 38 year old self, would tell my 26 year old self that those extreme days and nights of longing to have someone to love and having family around will one day be replaced with the only time that I didn’t have anyone around was usually in the bathroom or shower (although not all the time with two kids around). I would tell myself that I need to wait for the one the Lord has for me, to not just settle for who would make me feel warm and fuzzy for a fleeting moment. I would tell her that Lord will give her the desires of her heart and they will be more than she can even imagine. I would tell her to enjoy this time in her life because there will be days when I long for those times of sleeping in a bed all by myself or spending a Saturday reading a good book and not feel guilty that she should be doing the 100 of things that need to be done around the house. I would tell her to have patience, it does get better!
I would tell myself to enjoy every moment because you will look back (7 years) and wish you were 26 again! It’s an amazing ride and everyday is a gift, but sometimes that gift should be accompanied by some arthritis medication and a hot tub!
Hope you have the best birthday ever, you deserve it girl!
One more thing I would tell myself….. You just think 38 is old….it’s actually much younger than you think.
You will be a mommy one day and 26 is SO young!
I had it all planned out and wanted to have my babies before 30. Things didn’t go according to my plan, but I had one at 28 and another at 31.
At 26 my life was sort of misreable. Now at 36 my life couldn’t be better. So at 26 I would tell myself to hang in there. You have no idea what God has in store for you but it’s gonna be great! You just have to remember, it’s in His time, not yours.
I would tell myself that it is going to be the toughest year of my life, but that I will get through it. Well I hope I get through it, I still have 2 more months left until 27!
But really, 26 is far better age than 25. All my friends and I hated 25.
I hope 26 brings you a year of peace, love and happiness. Happy Birthday my friend! xox
OK here’s the almost 41 (in 12 days) to the almost 26 yr old me:Don’t worry God hasn’t forgotten you – the same way He brought you Gez, He’ll bring you babies – and delivering them sounds worse than it really is. You will figure out what His plan for your life is it just won’t be exactly what you think it is. And the teaching thing wasn’t an accident – He put that in you to love for life
Your personality is not wrong just because it’s different and creativity doesn’t always wear the same on you as it will everybody else.
Happy Birthday Amy Beth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would tell my 26 year old self that while things in the “future” may not turn out like you thought, amazing things will happen that you didn’t plan. and I would tell myself and my hubs not to buy the house so soon- homeownership is great, but sometimes I wish we were back in the rent paying days – then we could take a vacation with the monthly mortgage ha! well, then, actually I would probably tell my 26 year old self not to wait to make big things happen, like a great trip with the hubs, cause their is no time like the present, and we were renting then
I’d say, “Listen, honey. 26 isn’t NEARLY as old as you think it is. There is a LOT of life, and a lot of life’s surprises ahead of you. Fidget less. Laugh more. Don’t wish your life away. Because someday not too far from today, you’ll look back and miss the way things are right now.”
“Your life isn’t where you thought it would be, and neither will it go where you intended. The beautiful thing is, God has a better plan than yours was to begin with, and 16 years after turning 26, you will realize it and embrace it and realize there are still more twists and turns to come!”
“I know you think right now that the rest of your life is going to be exactly like this — but you’re dead wrong. The path God has in store for you has so many twists and turns you don’t expect you wouldn’t even recognize yourself ten years from now. But don’t worry — you’ll like her.”
Enjoy these days of being foot-loose and fancy free. He’ll eventually ask you to marry him. Be sold out for God.
I didn’t put it in quotes, but that’s what I would go back and tell myself.
I think I’d tell myself that it *is* possible to be single and be content…but don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t there yet. I didn’t know that until I was 26!
Happy almost birthday!
Having been in this exact place less than 6 months ago, I would tell myself that it’s better than I thought it would be. And refuse to give into the temptation to do anything except praise Him because He has given me another year to live. Then drink a shot of tequila and greet the day with a smile.
That’s what I would do.
Live now. Don’t think that life will begin when you get a husband or lose weight or whatever you may think is what is missing to allow you to live life. LIve NOW.
BTW, that is what I would tell the 26 yo ME. Not saying you’re not. Just saying don’t get caught up in thinking that life is coming. Life is here. I wish someone had told me that.
Since 25 was without a doubt one of teh hardest years of my life I think I would tell myself…
You WILL get through the pain and the mess that is your life right now and God will redeem so many things that you will be left breathless by all the He does. His Love? It is true.
May 26 be your best year yet Amy Beth.
At 30, I wrote a letter to my 20-year-old self.
But for you, on the eve of your 26th birthday, I’d say, Congratulations! You’re almost to 30.
At 26, I’d have smacked me in the face for saying that, because it was sure to be laced sarcasm and malicious intent, but now at 33, I’d know it’s true.
The 30′s are wonderful, even if you are single and a smidge overweight with nary a man in sight. You just know who you are and you’re a full-fledged adult, and though you can’t put words to it, the thirties are just better and more.
So, on the eve of your 26th birthday, let me tell you that the best is yet to come. Like, totally.
Well, I haven’t quite reached 26 yet, but I will in a few short years.
I believe that right now I would tell myself to live life to the fullest, fear nothing, Love Jesus, and don’t worry about a husband. He will come along when you least expect it…
I <3 you AB and HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!
I turn 40 on Tuesday–and I can say that I am not traumatized at all.
What would I tell you?
26 is young. I even think that 40 is young! 26 is young, and it’s OK not to have everything figured out yet. Enjoy it!
The only timeline you are on is God’s, so don’t compare yourself to others.
And have LOTS of fun.
I would remind myself that your mom will be right: Going back to school won’t be that bad and it’ll be over before you know it. I’d also remind my 25 year old self to regularly focus on Jesus and know that the things to come can be better or worse based on your perspective…oh, and to build up hope…because you’re going to need it in the future.
I would say, “Bloom where you are planted!”
When I am 26 in a few years I want to tell myself, and you, love today. Live in today but look forward with hope to tomorrow. Life may not go as planned but roll with the punches. Enjoy this time while you can. Oh yea and Happy birthday! Cant forget that one.
If I could go back and tell almost 26 year old me anything, it would be “relax, girl. Quit trying so hard. God’s got some big things planned for you and you don’t even know what’s coming, but you’re going to love it!!!”
I’m guessing I could tell almost 29 year old me that same thing… We’ll see what the future holds.
Blessings to you on your birthday!!!
I would tell myself that the best years are still head of me. My life was just getting good at 26. Happy Birthday, friend. Keep the faith. Amazing things happen when we do.
I would remind myself to take a lot of pictures of my every day life and I’d force myself to be in them knowing that someday I would think that I looked incredibly young even though I may have felt old beyond my years when they were taken. I would tell myself that those pictures would become precious in time … and that someday, even the hardest of days would someday be considered “the good old days.” I’d remind myself that “pretty is as pretty does and that only what’s done for Christ will last…” when confronted with tempations and trials. I’d convince myself that my imperfect body would one day be viewed as perfection, a safe haven of shared secrets, by a man whose love would know no bounds. I would tell myself to breathe and to be still…
Oh I’m so glad a post is open – you don’t know me but I read your blog and I think you are the best and I love what you are doing with those girls xx
26 – I would tell myself that things NEVER stay the same
God does know all about me
Serve the Lord with all my heart and know that where I am at is His plan
(I struggled with all those things)
I 40 know eek – and still need to remind myself of those things x
Bless you sweet girl x
I don’t know about 26…I’m not quite there yet. But I can tell you what I told myself on the eve of my 24th birthday: “Carolyn Jo…this is a brand new year. Go out and live it fully. Take risks. Don’t hesitate to do the things you’ve always wanted to do.” And then I made a great big list of 25 things I wanted to do before 25 (only a few of which I’ve actually marked off, but hey, that’s a start!).
Whatever you do on the first day, the last day, and every day in between of this year, I wish you blessings upon blessings. May God move in this year in ways beyond your imagination, and may He reveal even more of His wonderful plan for your life. Happy Birthday, Amy Beth!
amy beth, i just have a feeling that this next year is going to be your best year yet. i want you to surrender to God’s plans for you…don’t resist any of it!! he has things in store for you that you cannot imagine! i adore that you are taking the first steps into your twenty-sixth year surrounded by SO MUCH LOVE…not just the love of the precious girls who adore you, but also the precious love of Jesus.
eek! i cannot wait to read along through the adventures of the big 2-6! find a day over the next week when you can take a big old bubble bath and welcome it in style!!!!! <3
If I could share what I know now with my going-to-be-26-year-old self I would tell her:
1. God is good even in the hard times – especially in the hard times.
2. In two months you will start treatment for depression, soon you’ll be being treated for bipolar. Don’t be scared because God’s already got an awesome treatment team (counselor and psychiatrist) for you. With their help you will learn to smile and laugh again.
3. Moving back in with your parents is hard but worth it.
4. STAY AWAY FROM THE CREDIT CARDS!!!
I’m 25 right now, a few months left until my birthday, and man, this year has sucked. Big time.
I hope I’m saying, “Pack your bags baby, it is time to see the world and have some fun” the day before I’m 26.
At 26, I had just finished grad school, and bought my first little house. Alone. And I sat in the middle of the floor in that big empty place and just cried for my single self. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time worrying about the future, and focused more on how wonderful my life was then, too. Travel as much as you can. Consider each awkward blind date / first date as practice…because at an age when you thought you’d be settled with a brood of four babies at your feet, God will bring you the love of your life, and you’ll know it was all worth the wait.
My husband absolutely was. We married at the age of 33.
[...] and go tell Amy Beth happy [...]
My almost 36 year old self would tell my 26 old self to take a deep breath and hold on because everything was getting ready to change. I would tell my 26 year old self to love deeply (God, myself and those around me) and to give unselfishly. I’d tell myself to soak up every moment of every experience, because one day, you will look back on these times of solitude and silently wish you could sleep late, or take a nap in the middle of a Saturday afternoon or just pick up and go on the spur of the moment. I’d tell myself that God really did have a plan and He really did know what He was doing and that waiting for all that I hoped for really was worth it.
I loved my 26th year-it was the year that changed me forever for the better. It happened in the blink of an eye and the funny thing was, it had been staring me in the face for a couple of years and I didn’t even know it…
Believing with you for the best year yet! Happy Birthday Amy Beth! God Bless you!
I asked on FB for you to email me for your birthday gift. If you read that you know that I want to introduce you to a wonderful guy. He lives in Birmingham and is a Christian. Um, that does sound interesting doesn’t it.
Sharon Ward
What a great question. What I would have told myself is: STOP living in the future. Live, and I mean really LIVE, where you are right this minute. Maybe it is not perfect, but our Lord has given you everything you need. Stay present with what you are doing and stop looking for the next thing. It will never be exactly right the way you think it should be. And if you live always looking to the next thing, always trying to prepare for what may or may not happen, you will find yourself 20 years later never really have LIVED. So live, embrace today, love hard, take some chances, and take some steps to do the things you really want to do. People don’t die sad they did take some chances – they only die wishing the have taken MORE. And finally, the Lord of the universe is madly in love with you and is with you wherever you go.
I would tell myself that I don’t need to sweat being single. Love will find me. And most importantly, don’t settle. And don’t rush into anything just because I am the last of my friends to be single.
And I would say enjoy each day to it’s fullest. My late 20s were filled with searching and wonder. I made one of my best friends that year. And that was the year that I grew more dependent on the Lord.
I’d tell myself to stop dwelling on my past. Enjoy my day. And look forward to my future.
Instead it’s taken me to 30 to stop dwelling on my past. And it’s taken me until just a few days ago to really just enjoy my every day instead of wanting the days to go faster so that “one day” I’ll be the me I hope to be.
I want to enjoy who I am right now. The girl who is learning from her past instead of dwelling on it. I want to enjoy my kids right now instead of wishing they could tie their own shoes, wipe their own behinds and make their own dinner.
Yep, those are the things I’d say to me the day before my 26th birthday if I could.