As my birthday is coming to a close, I am reflecting on the past year and my life in general. I am so blessed with a loving and supportive family, great friends who are like family, and more acquaintances than I can mention. There is nothing like having a wonderful group of people to help you through this strange thing called life. I love my husband and children. They make me laugh and scream and cry and pray. They give me balance and they throw me off balance. I couldn't imagine anyone else filling my days. They make me want to be a better person. They make me pray for a better world filled with opportunity and true equality.
My mom is one of my biggest cheerleaders. I am thankful that I am at a point in my life where I can actually say that we are truly friends and confidantes. I realize now how many sacrifices she made to give my brother and I a life of quality. She invested her time and talents, her resources were often lacking. It made such a difference in our character and values. Both my brother and I are better parents because of her example. I try to make sure that she knows that I love her and I really am appreciative of her willingness to invest and build children who are making a mark on their corners of the world. It goes without saying, that my grandmother made a major impression on my life as well. That Gemini woman quietly imprinted my life in ways I can't even put on paper. I have aunts who play a special part in my life and now those of my children too. I really do come from a strong stock of women. I carry a part of each of them with me.
I know I have written about my friends in previous posts but let me just say that I have some ride or die friends. I have women in my life who pray for me, check me, and uplift me. They support me through all kinds of crazy moments and happy moments. They too make me a better person. They have loved me through good times and bad. They check my children and sometimes my hubby too. They get me. I hope I bless them as much as they bless me.
So....God has blessed me with good people whom I wouldn't trade in for the world. Really, He has blessed me with a good life. I have done some great things. I wish I had done some things differently. I wish I had learned some lessons sooner rather than later. I can't even comment on the number things that I wish I had not said. I have made mistakes. In spite of it all, I get up every day and purpose to be a better person. My dad's motto was "Life to the fullest, no regrets!" Really it should be all of our mottoes. We should live each day to the fullest and when we reach the end, we should have few, if any, regrets. Sometimes, we have to smile even though we wanna cry and sometimes we need to let the tears flow. We need to reach out to others and encourage them on their life journey. You really never know when the lessons you've learned will empower and help somebody else.
I know me better than anyone else. I am strong. I am kind. I am loving. I am prayerful. I am confident. I am every woman(in my Chaka Khan voice). I was born for a purpose. I haven't done all I plan to do. I love people and I want to see the best in them. I want to live out God's plan for me life. I want to continue to be honest and trustworthy. A great wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend and whatever other roles I play are also what I strive to be.
So as I embrace turning 29 again, I place certain challenges upon myself. As always, to be a woman God can use. To be more healthy, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I am not going to allow people to impose their ideas of who I should be upon me. I am comfortable in my skin. I will always remain true and faithful to a set of core values. I am a person of my word. I am not given to following the crowd. What may look crazy to you, may be normal for me. I remain extremely prayerful. Chante is going to high school in September and that is a whole new world of parenting for us. I have no problem burdening others to pray for us and to intervene if necessary. Each day, I take stock of the people and influences in my life. If they aren't right or are causing excessive negative energy, they get the boot. Life is too short for folks who drain you in every interaction. So these things being said(and yes, I really could go on some more), I wish myself a very Happy Birthday! I thank God for the things He has done in this year and I welcome the challenges and blessings of the year to come. I only pray that I remember to seek His face and that I remember when I am in the midst of a storm, that it too shall pass. Here's to another year of good living. Ciao!
Copyright June 3, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe
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