About a year ago, a woman who I love and respect sat with me and listened as I shared all of the perils of my current life as a 25 year old female. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career (despite plenty of searching), all of the good guys were taken and I was doomed to be single forever, I didn’t have enough money, I didn’t weigh what I felt like I should weigh, and a good friend had really hurt me that day.

I was having a 20-something-girl-meltdown.

Luckily for me, I was sitting in front of the right person that night. After some patient listening and gentle guidance, she said these words: “What you need, is to just ENJOY your life.”

“Enjoy?!? MY life?! Okay – umm, did you hear all of these huge problems I am having? I don’t have time to enjoy life. And how in the world could I enjoy anything when my life is so unsure, I’ll probably be single forever, I can’t even be a crazy cat lady because I hate cats, and I am SO far from where I should be in life?! Everyone else has it together. I can’t enjoy anything while I am so far behind!”

Do any other 20-something’s (who am I kidding…ALL of you…the youngest to the oldest) find yourselves having conversations like this in your head?

Does anyone else ever feel like you can’t enjoy your life until all of your ducks are in a row?

Here is the problem with that. Ducks move…a lot. They are like kindergarteners. Just when you expend your voice and energy and finally get them in a straight line, they’re a mess again. They’re uncontrollable.

I made a commitment that night and wrote it out on paper. I signed it and stuck it where I would see it every day. One year where my main priority would be to ENJOY.

I took off the pressure of finding the perfect job, the perfect husband, and the perfect everything else. I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I figured I couldn’t fall too far into the deep end in just a year.

Then something crazy happened. Ready for it?

I started LOVING life. I found more fun and joy in my day-to-day life than I ever thought possible. At one point, I even thought, “I’m not sure I want to get married anytime soon…being 25 and single is the BEST!”

I started thriving in my current roles and amazing new opportunities were rolling in. I was able to connect with the Lord in a whole new way–with a curious heart, wanting to really know him rather than feeling as if I had to perform for him. I stopped comparing myself to other people and feeling as if I never measured up. Basically, I realized how much fun life is supposed to be!

My “year” is over now. . . but not really. I learned one of the biggest keys to living a successful life.

I may still get off track from time to time and start to let worry creep back in, but then I remember: God wants us to enjoy life. The up’s and downs, the crazy twists and turns, and the simple little moments that can easily get overlooked. Life seems like it is all about the big highlights, but that isn’t true. Those are great and wonderful, but if you only focus on those moments, you’ll realize you missed out on the joy of the journey. The imperfect, beautiful, messy journey that is called life.

I read an amazing book called God Loves Ugly by Christa Black. (You all should read it.) She sums it up here so perfectly:

I can rest right where I am today in the journey, knowing that if this is where I am, it is exactly where I need to be. I can have hope for tomorrow, but not at the expense of missing the now moments that I can never get back. I drink deeply of the cup of contentment today, no matter how bad my circumstances are, as I wait for the future sun. And I’ve committed to stop searching for the gold of another day, and start holding on to the treasure that’s already within my hands. I’m learning to find priceless treasures in the life that I hold my hands at this very moment. –Christa Black, God Loves Ugly.

Now, dear treasure hunters — go and seek out the treasure that is at your fingertips today!

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Sydney Tenney is a big fan of Jesus, coconut sparkling water and sunshine. She spends most days running her business from local coffee shops, doing an assortment of physical activity, and being with with the incredible people she calls her friends and family. She is a big advocate of trips to Target, reading personal development books, and helping people achieve their dreams. She believes deeply in gratitude, enjoying the simple moments of life, and the beauty of friendship. Read Sydney’s other posts here.

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