For I know the plans I have for you

Every year around my birthday, I sit back and I reflect on my life and all the things I've experienced. I can't help but thank God for everything that He has blessed me with. This year I really thank Him for growth. I never really thought a lot on my personal growth until this year, because if outwardly everything was fine, I was able to mask anything that was occurring on the inside and sort of pretend that it didn't exist. This year I've been faced with many different trials and a lot of them I had to handle on my own. It was all personal. It really gave me a chance to really look at myself and who I am, and work on being a better woman. I'm not saying it's been an easy road and I still have a long way to go, but I'm so thankful for it all. I'm happy that I'm at a place that I can finally say that because a couple of months ago, all I wanted was for everything to go away and for it to all be "fixed". But what I've realized is that nothing is really broken, except for my mindset and my attitude towards situations. A couple of things that I've learned are: 

"Every pain has a purpose" 
We can take hurt and disappointments as negative things, but you can also turn it around and look at it as teaching you how to deal with a situation and how to handle it better if you are to ever encounter it again. God knows your entire life. He knows everything that is going to happen to you before it happens, so instead of getting upset when things that you "don't like" occur, think about what you're supposed to be learning or getting out of that situation. Nobody likes to experience pain, but it's so temporary and it teaches you something so valuable if you let it. 

"But why me?" 
Why not you? God will never, ever give you anything that you can't handle and if you truly believe that, you can sit back and ask yourself, "well why not me?" Think of it as God deeming you strong enough and capable enough to handle that obstacle that has been placed in front of you. To turn a negative into a positive, God is using you to help others who may encounter the same trials and similar experiences. You can give them the wisdom you learned to help them better get through the situation. Be that vessel for them.

I'm where I am in life at this very point in time for a reason. Even if I don't always understand the reason, I know that God will reveal that to me when He is ready, on His time, not mine. People always say, "take it day by day", but I'm learning that for me, the easiest way to push through things when times may be hard is to take things "moment by moment". A day may be too much to think about, but if you embrace each moment for what it is, it makes things a little easier. You may have messed up 5 minutes ago, but brush it off and move on and make the next 5 minutes the best 5 minutes. 

You won't progress if you keep dwelling on the past and what you wish things could be like. Embrace the season that you're in, because seasons change and they don't last forever. This season for me has not been my favorite, but I'm learning to take it for what it is. I'm a better woman for it and what's not to love about that.  I've learned that everything doesn't always work out the way I planned it. And that's okay. You just have to learn to go with the flow and adapt. If you don't adapt, you won't survive (metaphorically speaking, of course). You never know what life may throw at you and trying to plan out your whole life is pointless. Things happen and sometimes it's out of your control. Just know that whatever is for you, will never miss you! 

I hope that whoever read's this knows that God's got you. Embrace whatever comes your way and know that there's a reason for it all! 

With Love, 

Cherie Amour