Getting older

Just had a birthday, and I have to admit, wasn't excited about turning 28. It didn't help when the 19ish year old waitor at the restaurant decided that I was too old to announce my birthday and instead reported to the rest of the restaurant spectators that my birthday was "unnumbered". I guess when I was 19, 28 did seem kinda up there ;).

But you know, it's a great thing to get older and to start becoming more of who you wanted to be all along. I am going through this phase where I feel like each day I gain a greater perspective of my relationships and myself. God is teaching me to see things more through His eyes, not to be so sensitive and judgmental. My friends, whom I had placed on a pedastal, I have finally learned are not perfect... They are just trying to make a go of life as I am. Trial and error, learning from mistakes, forgiving oneself and others, knowing better and doing better, placing grievances/misperceptions aside and choosing to enjoy one another in love. They, like myself, won't always realize/recognize where we've gone wrong, but isn't the point that we all do things that disappoint, whether intended or not, so shouldn't we just forgive? And I'm not so far behind as I thought.

My family is not crazy, and just because I don't necessarily view the world from their standpoint, that doesn't mean they are wrong, or that I have to do as they do... and the best part of it all, I can love them even in spite of our differences. There is a happy middle ground where we can be close.

I'm learning to be stronger, more independent and confident... finally. I'm learning that I can't always and don't have to try to please everyone all the time, but I certainly can try to be a good, dependable friend and enjoy who I am and the experiences I have along the way.

getting older, getting better.