Hi everyone!

It’s my 30th birthday today and I’m in good company with fellow stars Johnny Depp, Natalie Portman and Michael J Fox who also share this special day. 🙂

I thought it would be fun to create a list of life lessons I have learned within 30 years so without further ado, here they are.

1. Your inner child sometimes dictates your future.                                                                       Ever since I was little, I had a strong interest in skincare and in writing. In college, my first declared major was biology so that I could eventually be a dermatologist and while that didn’t work out, I still ended up in the skincare realm as an esthetician.  I graduated with a degree in English Literature and who knows, maybe I’ll also pursue my dream to publish a book.
2.  The adage health is wealth is so true.                                                                                                        As someone with a chronic illness known as IC, I know the pain and suffering that comes when your body doesn’t function as it should.  It’s definitely true that no amount of money can ever replace feeling your best.
3. Your illness doesn’t define you.  This was and still is a hard concept for me to grasp at times but I’m learning that there is so much more to me than my limitations or rough moments.  The compassionate and strong person I’ve become trumps anything else.
4. Knowing when to get help                                                                                                                        Sometimes in life, there are certain experiences or events that leave deep wounds inside us and we don’t know how to cope with them.  There’s nothing wrong with seeking professional help as it’s the first step in healing yourself.
5. It’s okay to be selfish at times.                                                                                                               It’s perfectly normal to sometimes put your needs in front of others.  You can’t pour from an empty cup so take care of yourself first so that you can better help others.
6. Be grateful things didn’t work out the way you wanted them too.                                    There are SO many things I wished would have worked out but if they had, I wouldn’t be where I am today as an owner of my skincare practice or I would have been stuck in a toxic, unhealthy  relationship.
7. Sometimes the people you least expect are the ones who help you the most.            There are people who I thought would be there forever and ended up walking out of my life.  And then there are people whom I’ve had a rocky past with that have ended up being there for me in my time of need.  Don’t be too harsh in judging someone because they just might surprise you.
8. You’re capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for.                                        I tend to always underestimate myself but when I step out of my comfort zone, I see that I can accomplish a lot of if I just believe in myself and focus.  To this day it still amazes me that I was able to, by the grace of God, earn my degree while fighting IC, working part time and taking care of my household.
9. It’s good to spend time by yourself.                                                                                            Every now and then it’s good to spend some quiet time alone as you really increase your productivity and it allows you to tap into your inner voice without distractions.
10. It’s okay not to have everything figured out.                                                                                  A huge lesson that I’m still learning is that sometimes you just have to go with the flow.  It can take a few detours to figure out what’s best for you.
11. Music has a tendency to make almost any situation better.                                                            Whatever mood I’m in, I know that there’s a song I can play that will help me get through the most grueling moment or kick in the motivation when I’m working out.
12. Do more of what you love.                                                                                                                             I love to dance so I make sure to make room for it at least once a week.  It alters my mood and makes my glow from the inside out.
13. Develop great skincare habits while you’re young.                                                                    Of course, as an esthetician I could not not include something about skincare- otherwise I’d cease to be Stephanie. 😉  Wear SPF diligently, wash your face every night, exfoliate and apply a good moisturizer. Your skin and future self will thank you.
14. Smile more.                                                                                                                                                           I had a good friend who unfortunately passed away at the beginning of this year.  She always had a smile that was so infectious and made you feel welcome.  Such a simple gesture has a powerful impact.
15. Know that when there’s a storm in your life, God is there by your side.                             When difficult moments arise, know that God will provide you the strength to carry on when you seek Him.
16. Stay humble and kind.                                                                                                                         Simple and straightforward, these two things are crucial to a great life.
17. Spend time with those you love.                                                                                                           I hear that the biggest regret in life is not spending enough time with those you care about so I try to spend as much time with my friends and family and creating great memories.
18. Success is defined by you.                                                                                                                  The only definition of success that matters is the one you make for yourself.
19. Say yes to a blind date at least once.                                                                                          Whether it’s the best date ever or a disaster, trust me, it’ll be a great experience you’ll never forget. And you will always have a great story to tell.
20. Time is not a healer but it takes time to heal.                                                                                        The passage of time doesn’t mean that you will heal but healing does take time.
21. Practice patience.                                                                                                                                            In tandem with the lesson above, this is another hard lesson for me to learn.  I tend to want things ‘now’ but I’m realizing it takes time for the right things to develop.
22. Life gives you certain lessons that you need to learn.                                                                 If you pay close attention your life, you’ll realize that sometimes certain situations keep repeating themselves.  It is then that you have to learn how to fix it or learn how to change your reaction/perception of it.
23. Learning how to say no.                                                                                                                        People will take advantage of you for as long as you let them.  You need to set boundaries with yourself and others so that you don’t spread yourself to thin.    
24. Validation comes from within.                                                                                                  Happiness starts and ends with you. If you look for validation from social media, items or accolades, you’ll never truly be happy.  Love yourself first and everything else falls into place.
25. Dreams become reality when intentions become action.                                                     Easier said than done, action is key to getting things accomplished. You can dream all day long about things you want but if you don’t take the necessary steps to get yourself there, it never becomes a reality.
26. You can’t change the people around you but you can change the people around you.   I heard this quote and absolutely loved it because it’s so true.  While you can’t change someone, you have the power to decide who you want to spend your time with.
27. You must do the the thing which you think you cannot do.                                          Nothing great happens in your comfort zone.  In order to start my blog and business, I had to overcome fears and doubts and do it anyway.  While the uncertainty will always be there, the lessons and benefits reaped are well worth it.
28. A little elbow grease can help you relieve stress.                                                                           I may be alone on this one but when I am overwhelmed or angry, I start cleaning my house.  With   with all the scrubbing and reorganizing, I am able to relieve negative emotions and gather my thoughts.
29. Comparison is the thief of joy.                                                                                                                It’s so easy for me to get caught up with who is accomplishing but I tend to forget that each of us have our own struggles to deal with and we each have something unique to offer the world. It’s good to admire someone, but if I get consumed with measuring my life with others, then I miss out on offering my gifts to the world.
30. The best step in life is one foot right in front of the other.  Life is a constant cycle of ups and downs, and amid all the chaos and success, you just have to keep going, having faith that with effort and hard work, everything will work itself out.

Thanks for reading and I’ll be back to posting soon.

With love,