Reflections on important things on my birthday…

Guys, it’s my birthday today!

I know the mature, demure thing to do would be wave it off. Pretend I’m too old to get excited about birthdays and I haven’t actually been thinking about ice cream cake for a week now.

But I’m not and I have and I’m sorry, I just like the day, okay?

Seeing as how I’m another year older, it seems like it might be a good time to reflect on things I’ve learned since this time last year. Life lessons, if you will. And, well, let’s face it–I needed a blog topic this week and birthday-inspired deep thoughts sounded fun.

Note 1: Why just ten life lessons? Originally I was going to do as many as my age. Then I realized that’d get long and nobody has time for that and you’d then know how old I am. And *gasp* we can’t have that. 

Note 2: Kidding. I’m 34.

So here we go…

Life lessons learned on the way to another birthday:

1. Sometimes accidents have beautiful results:

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2. It’s better to give than receive. Except for germs, in which case neither giving nor receiving is ideal. [Please tell me you’re reading this, guy on the plane to Dallas a week and a half ago who kept sneezing on me.]

3. Nothing beats being an aunt. You can buy your niece and nephew toys and spoil them rotten and when they’re naughty…you get to laugh. 

Also, you get moments like this:

PicMonkey Collage

4.  Never give up hope. This time last year I stood in a Bath & Body Works store after ten minutes of scouring the place and an employee told me they no longer carried flannel-scented candles. I’m not saying I teared up on the spot. But I’m not saying I didn’t either.

And then…then just last week I discovered they reintroduced the flannel candles again this fall. I’m not saying I immediately spent an entire month’s fun money on an online order of more candles than any one person needs at one time. But I’m not saying I didn’t either.

Never give up hope, folks.

5. There will never be another Leslie Knope on television and it’s okay to fully mourn that. 

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6. Sometimes, a simple move can make all the difference. You pack your belongings and find a hundred good memories in the process. You realize all over again how amazing your family is as they help you transport your stuff…including an elliptical so heavy you can’t believe the guys actually lifted it. You wake up smiling for weeks after getting settled, the change as welcome as the turning leaves and crisp cool of autumn.

Oh, and you totally get to play with packing peanuts and plastic bubble wrap.

6.  INSTAGRAM IS ACTUALLY FUN.

7. Awesome things often just get awesomer. For instance, sometimes you think you couldn’t love your favorite band any more than you already do. Then they go and do a mashup of the Jackson 5/Black Crowes and your little heart bursts:

8. That whole trusting God thing? It doesn’t suddenly get easier as you get older. But it might get a little more persistent. It might become your obvious answer a little more often and a little more quickly at every little life twist. It might sink into your bones a little deeper with each year.

9. Cute coffee mugs are everything!

mugs

10. Dreams are hard work. Sometimes they’re demanding and sometimes they’re exhausting and sometimes you wonder if they’re worth it.

Then there’s a day when the writing sings. Or the characters grip your heart so tight you’re convinced—for a few whimsical moments—they’re actually real. Or a reader takes the time to write you a note that makes you cry.

Or you finish editing your galleys at the end of a long, surprisingly hard week…and you remember all over again how incredible it is you get to do this thing you love. And the gratitude overwhelms you. 

That was me…last night…getting ready to package up this…the perfect birthday gift:

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Okay, done. Thanks for letting me have some blog fun. Hope you day is as great as a birthday!

💙 💙 💙

Melissa First Name Sig

 

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    Comments 26

    1. I hope today is one of the best days ever! May you dream yor dreams, write your writings and find joy in everything that comes your way. Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl! And many, many more!

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    2. Happy birthday, Melissa! I hope you’re having a fantastic day!
      I definitely have to agree with several of the things you shared, particularly the part about trusting God. I’m definitely still learning that, and though it is becoming a bit more instinctive to reach for Him first, it’s not really any easier to step back and give Him all of the control. I’m kind of like a little kid clinging on, asking “but, why?”
      So, anyway, got distracted. Happy Birthday, again! 🙂

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        Hi Sarah! I so hear you. It’s like, I think I realize quicker as I get older that, look, the obvious mature thing to do in any situation is trust God. 🙂 But that doesn’t make actually doing it any easier!

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    4. Happy Birthday Melissa! I really enjoyed your blog post. I see you’re done with editing another book that you’ve just finished writing. I can’t wait to read Like Never Before. I hope it’s out by sometime next year. I hope you have a blessed day with family and friends.

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        Thanks for the birthday well wishes, Rebecca. And yep, the next book is out next year…April 2016. Woohoo! But…there may be something extra coming out a little later this year. Stay tuned. 😉

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    6. Happy Birthday, Melissa! I hope your day is fantastic. And yes, yes, yes on the cute coffee mugs! They’re a must! Have you ever done a mug swap? So fun to use Instagram, Pinterest, etc. to try to find the perfect mug for a stranger and have someone else find the perfect mug for you! (OK, so it sounds a little creepy now that I’ve described it–but it’s such fun, really!)

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        OOH I haven’t done any kind of mug swap before…it sounds fun though. Or creepy. Either way. LOL! No but seriously…I bet I’d have a blast with that. I’ve always said I’m not much of a collector. I don’t do knick-knacks or figurines…just not my thing. BUT I have an insane number of coffee mugs and it hit me earlier this year that they might actually be considered a collection. Haha!

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    8. Melissa:
      I’m thankful I know you, friend.
      There are days I wish I was you … and then I decide no, no … it’s by far better to be your friend. Because you are just so much fun to know!

      Happy Birthday!

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    9. Happy Birthday!!! I hope you’re having a truly wonderful day! 🙂 We’re celebrating a couple birthdays here today too… 😉
      I really enjoyed your post– thanks for sharing! And I absolutely love your books; they are fantastic! 🙂

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    10. Happy birthday, Melissa! I hope you enjoy an awesome day full of ice cream cake and everything else a great birthday involves. Such a fun post – and yay for that next book. Inching ever closer. 🙂

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    12. ♪ღ♪*•.¸¸¸.•*¨¨*•.¸¸¸.•*•♪ღ♪¸.•
      *¨¨*•.¸¸¸.•*•♪ღ♪•*
      ♪ღ♪░H░A░P░P░Y░ B░I░R░T░H░D░A░Y░░♪ღ♪
      *•♪ღ♪*•.¸¸¸.•*¨¨*•.¸¸¸.•*•♪¸.•
      *¨¨*•.¸¸¸.•*•♪ღ♪•«Happy Happy Birthday Melissa!!

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