I’m not sure where to start or even what I exactly want to say, but I know I have a lot to share. Most of the time I have a clear or general idea of what I want to write in each of my blog posts, however today is a little different. I’m stuck between all of the thoughts floating around in my head and knowing I want to create a blog post to share with all of you.

You see, blogging for me isn’t just a part of my brand or future business. It is a public journal of my thoughts, reflections, and experiences. And I am so lucky to have this space and you wonderful humans to share it with. It is something personal to remember special moments in my life but also something I hope that inspires some of you.

So, I will start off by saying THANK YOU.

Thank you for following along on this crazy, wild journey. Thank you for encouraging me and sharing your stories. And most importantly, thank you for showing me love and support as I navigate through this magical life. I love each and every one of you.

A Quarter of a Century

Twenty-five, to me, is such an interesting time in my life. We’re told our twenties are the best times of our lives and I am a true believer in that. I see so many friends and acquaintances on several different paths in life. Some still in school and drunk at the bar every weekend. Others working full time and moving in with their significant other or cat. The rest are getting engaged, married, and pregnant. We are all SO unique but, yet all have one thing in common…

We’re all just trying to find our place in this world.

I grew up fast for my age. While all of my friends went off to college, I didn’t. I took a semester off and worked. Lost a lot of those said friends but gained new ones. I was figuring things out on my own a lot faster than most of the people my age around me were. I never was one to party every weekend or stay up till odd hours of the night. I liked my routine and supporting myself the best I could in the moment. And I was on a journey of self-love before it was trending on social media.

But for the longest time I was so unhappy. I was making personal and professional strides but, I never felt genuine happiness until about age 21. I thought my life was so bad because I “wasn’t like the other people my age”. I felt so different and out of place because I rather do other things than what your average 18-20-year-old was doing.

I didn’t see that all of this was okay until a few months after I turned 21. It was when I moved out of my mom’s house and left a 4-year long relationship that I learned it’s okay to be on a completely different path than everyone else.

I grew up a long time ago, but I never let myself accept it until then. And now I am 25 years old and am beyond grateful where my life has taken me. If it wasn’t for those hard times in my late teens and early twenties, I wouldn’t be sitting here typing out this post.

I always dreamed that I would be successful and married by the time I was 25. I didn’t ever have a plan of how I would accomplish it, but it just sounded like a good age to be settled down at. And I so blindly accomplished just that.

I like to think it was because of the lack of planning I did, but the quick reality check I got so many years ago, that led me to where I am today. All of those days and nights comparing myself to friends and wondering why I couldn’t have a similar care-free life like them. Little did I know the universe had something much bigger planned for me. It was preparing me for the next grand adventure that would bring more joy into my life than I ever experienced before. It was testing me, that’s for sure, but because it knew I was strong enough to walk this life I am now living.

It brought me to meeting my husband out of the blue and very unexpectedly. It brought me a clear vision of the business and work I want to create. It has shown me nothing will ever be perfect or pretty, but it will always be worth it. It’s taken me to places where I never thought were possible, both literally and figuratively. It has given me wonderful friends and family and has taught me I am in control of my own energy and happiness. And most importantly, it has gifted me with a baby boy that will make his appearance any day now. This life has blessed me with more love, joy, and happiness than I ever thought was possible.

And to think this is my life at just age 25 and I have so much more to live.

So, at age 25, at a quarter of a century, I can say I feel successful, accomplished, and over the moon happy with my life. It’s not because I have a high paying job or perfect family either. It is because I simply allowed myself to accept what was and surrender to the universe.

With this post I don’t want to come across like I am bashing anyone who isn’t at the same spot in life as I am, that’s not the message I want to send. I want to remind anyone reading this, whether you are settled down in life or still finding your way, that you don’t have to have the perfect plan or any plan at all. There’s no saying when or how quickly you have to grow up. A college degree means nothing and whatever career you have is worth having as long as you are happy. You don’t need a girlfriend or boyfriend to feel worthy and you certainly don’t need to have your shit together- none of us do.

Maybe there’s no real point to this blog post besides a lot of thoughts rambling across your screen but like all of my posts, I hope there’s at least one person to gain inspiration from it.

My life is far from perfect and it’s taken a lot of self-work to get to this point, but I wouldn’t trade any of it. I never thought this would actually be my life at age 25. I am grateful every day for what I’ve been through, what I have, and what’s to come. And I cannot wait to see what this next year has in store.

Here’s to 25!

 

Share your thoughts with me! Comment below or head to my Instagram page (@iamdevonjade)!

XOXO,

D.J.