13 FOR 31, LOVE.

13 THINGS FOR 31. 

I am a firm believer in the way words matter, so here are 13 things I am taking into this year of life and I hope YOU also can learn from, too. 

1. the anthem for my entire life has always been this: SHOW UP. it's still the same at 31. 
if you want something bad enough, you will show up in whatever it is that looks like. 
you can have excuse after excuse, but at the heart of who we are -- if you want it, step up baby.

2. between the pines are where the best things are. 
the mountains are probably my favorite place in the world to be. Its where I feel my best self, where i see God the most and where I feel the most peace. if I could always be in one place it would be in between the pine trees and fresh air. 

3. being scared IS PART OF LIFE. 
but don't let fear take the driver seat. If something feels scary to you, its probably there to help you grow. I think some times we miss out on the next best thing because we are terrified if we fail. But failure, I have learned, is where we learn to fight. so just do the scary thing and keep doing it until it becomes less frightening, love. 

4. you can start over. 
i was always afraid of this and the belief that what if I made the wrong decision, but what I have realized is that sometimes changing the narrative might end up being way better -- you might like your new story better. 

5. Your parents are people, too. 
it took me a long time to be close to my parents but as I have gotten older, I see it all so much more clearly and the way they, too, are learning life just as much as you are. 
spend time with them and ask them questions -- you will never regret it. 

6. karaoke parties with your friends is needed. 
you don't always need to be serious ... some nights are best when singing is involved. And then, laughing. lots of laughing. 

7. cry it out, babe. 
this last year, i tried my best to not let my sadness about anything get in the way. I kept repeating to myself that its not that serious, i don't need to feel that deep. But that was a lie. sometimes you truly do need to feel a little deeper, cry a little harder and let the tears fall... i always say, "you can have one pity party, but then when you wake up the next day you will continue being the badass you are." 
i still stand by that.

8. ice cream can fix anything. 
I don't know if this sentence really needs an explanation, but I've never been sad when I am eating ice cream. 

9. You are worthy of good things. 
i've always struggled with this one to be honest. in my most raw version of myself, I sometimes don't think i deserve the best, but oh i want it, i dream of it. I try to remind myself that I am worthy of something beautiful, real and honest. some days its hard to believe it, but some days I grasp onto it with both hands so tightly. 

10. cheer for other people like you cheer for yourself. 
I think this one takes some humbling but I think we need to be the type of people who champion others around us and want to see them win, even if that means we aren't. I think there's so much beauty in hoping for others what you hope for yourself. 

11. Psalm 23. repeat it over yourself. 
I got a tattoo of this last month because I so desperately want to make sure i keep reminding myself of these words. I grew up with constant anxiety and wondering if life would ever feel joyful and peaceful again -- this verse kept me grounded in the simple truth that: i lack nothing. 
so if you need any words of truth today -- go look this up. 

12.  let someone in. on purpose. 
after a year of truly healing, i found out that sometimes you really REALLY have to try your hardest to understand that not everyone will hurt you. not everyone is your past and if you take a chance on bravery and courage, you might find out that love is vulnerable and it is worth it. 
so i am trying here... i am trying to be open again. i know it'll be worth it... right? haha 

13. It matters that you are here. 
this line is something I tell every single person i meet. everyone. you matter. because we live in a generation that simply is quite mean, honestly. 
so i repeat this to myself, to others so much that it never leaves their mind. 
I think there is so much damn power in making sure someone else knows that they are worthy of belonging, thay are beautiful and they matter enough in this world to take up space. 
'cause you are. 


if you got through all 13 of my anthems for 31 then thank you for reading. I hope you take these things and can use them, too. 

I hope you know I am rooting for you. 

XO, J.