As I turn another year older, I would like to humbly share some of the life lessons that I have learned along the way with you! 

1. Pray, and focus on your relationship with Christ first. This is the most important thing that you will ever do here in your time on Earth.
2. Family first. Your family is God’s gift to you. Cherish them. 
3. Recognize your values and priorities in life. It is your utmost responsibility to yourself to stick to your values and priorities first. It is one of the most important things that you will do for yourself. It is where you learn who you are, and who you want to be.
4. Learn how to establish your boundaries. Physical boundaries are a little easier to establish, but recognizing your mental, spiritual, and emotional boundaries is much harder. It is why it is important to do so, because you learn how to respect and take care of yourself.
5. There is no such thing as “wrong timing, wrong person”. If this person was meant for you, you would be together. Nothing would keep you two apart from one another.
6. Take it easy. Life may be discouraging at times, and may cause you to stumble. But no matter how many times you fall, it is up to you whether or not you will stand up. Take life a day at a time. 
7. Do not overthink. As someone that is notorious for her need of control, I tend to worry like there is no tomorrow. But what good does that do me? Trust in God. For He is the one who is truly in control.
8. Listen to the advice given by your parents. But take it with a grain of salt. What your parents learned in their time may not fully apply to your generation now. But also realize that they are giving you advice for your sake, and not their own. 
9. Learn how to say “no”. Look at #4. Establish your boundaries, homie. You cannot do everything. Recognizing that is also a sign of humility.
10. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Something that has hit home for me in the past two years is allowing myself to ask for guidance and aid when I need it the most. It was difficult but allowed me to see how much I am able to do, and how humbling it is to have people help you because they want to, and they care for you.
11. Choose your friends… wisely. I struggled with this for the longest time because I felt bad in being “choosy” with those I considered friends. But something that I learned is that your friends is the family that you choose for yourself. Surround yourself with people that inspire you, and empower you to be the best version of yourself.
12. Community is a beautiful thing. I grew up in a Catholic family ministry for over half my life. It has taught me various lessons about leadership, friendship, and service. Find your community, and like-minded people that will help you realize your full potential.
13. You are exactly where you are meant to be. When I found myself being envious of my older friends who got engaged this year, I nearly laughed at myself. I am at this stage of my life because this is where I am called to be. That is perfectly okay. I’m not where they are, because I am where I am meant to grow right now.
14. Enjoy life. It is not cool to be uncool and unfazed by everything. Why live a life closed off from others when you can experience love through the people and encounters you experience? Be present. 
15. You don’t choose your saint, they choose you. St. Therese of Lisieux, for example, has become a huge part of my life and one of my most powerful intercessors this year. As she continued to surprise me by showing up in various parts of my life, I was reminded of God’s endless and unconditional love.
16. Death is inevitable. Due to the recent passing of my dear uncle, Teofilo Tubo, I learned the harsh reality that is human life. It is so scary in realizing that you can be here one day, and not the next.
    Cherish the time you have on earth. Tell people you love them!
17. Accountability is key. I am thankful for the friends who keep me in check when it comes to my goals – both spiritually and in my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their constant support and love in my life.
18. “You live and you learn.” Each moment in your life is meant to teach you something. It is so intentional that is almost silly for us to miss the lessons that we are meant to learn from each experience. A bad day can teach us the value of the good day that is coming ahead. 
19. The Lord can do so much through one little “yes”. After careful reflection, I realized that I was only able to meet my current spiritual director through the one little “yes” that I gave God earlier this year. Not only that, but this “yes” also led to me to one of beautiful opportunities in my writing career. 
20. On that same note, have courage and take risks. How else are we meant to soar when we let ourselves be chained to the ground? Let yourself be out of your comfort zone. That is where you learn and go beyond where you believe you’re meant to be. You’re worth so much more than you realize.
21. You are loved unconditionally. Truly, the hardest lesson that I had to learn in my twenty-one years of age was that I am loved. I am loved so deeply by God, and it is so beautiful. I hope and pray that you may realize and never forget your worth and value. 

What are some of the life lessons that you’ve learned lately? Feel free to share them below!