• Home
  • About
    • Policy
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Experience Collection
    • Progress Collection
    • Faith Collection
    • Vibe Collection
    • Mugs Collection
    • Stickers Collection
    • Accessories Collection
  • Cart

She Experienced...

A Lifestyle Blog

  • Beauty + Fashion
  • Inspiration
  • Living
  • Wellness
Living, Wellness

What 2018 Taught Me

December 31, 2018

I can’t believe how fast this year flew by; it literally seems like 2018 just started! Here we are on the brink of a new year, but I just want to take a minute to reflect on 2018 and the things I learned this year.

Patience

I feel like this year my patience has been tried on so many levels. The Lord knows I struggle in this area which is why He has allowed me to be in situations that would grow my patience. I’ve always heard the saying, “be careful what you pray for”, and experienced it this year because God will answer those prayers in His own way. The Lord ended the year with my biggest lesson in patience yet and that involved my recent car accident. My car was totaled and we are currently down to one car between me and my husband. Initially I was in such a rush to find a new car because I don’t like being inconvenienced, but a good friend reminded me that in my search for a new car patience is so important because I want to make sure I find the best vehicle for us – it’s not about hurrying up to get a car, but about waiting for the best car. That’s a word! God wants us to practice patience and not be in such a rush for pursuit. He knows just what we need and when we need it. Patience is everything!

Cherish and appreciate who and what you have

So many people didn’t make it to the end of the year and there are so many who are without things that are basic to us – like a car. I’ve learned that we, our situations, our things, can be here today and gone tomorrow. Nothing is promised and it’s so important that we learn to cherish and appreciate our blessings while we have them. The saying, you don’t know what you got until it’s gone, rings so true regardless of how cliche it may sound. In 2019 I want to do a better job of cherishing and appreciating those around me, where I am in life and the blessings of God. It’d be a shame to look back on something, a moment, or someone and just wish you had more time or wish you enjoyed just a little more.

Gratitude and contentment

When you are not grateful for and content with your own life, what you have in life and where you are in life it can cause resentment, jealousy, low self-esteem and a host of other things. If we allow it, social media can have us feeling ungrateful, comparing ourselves to others and feeling like we need to have and do more. I’ve experienced this many times and had to be reminded to be grateful and to have a spirit of contentment. God has me where I am for a reason and I need to be okay with that. I’m in competition with no one but the person I was yesterday. The more we give thanks and practice contentment, the more room we have for God’s blessings!

Find a reason to laugh or smile

Most people know me for always laughing, some say I laugh at anything (just about)! This year I’ve learned to even find laughter in setbacks and difficult times and it’s helped me so much. The accident (I will keep talking about this because I shouldn’t have made it out of that) I experienced was rough, but in talking about it later that day a friend of mine commended me on finding humor even during a difficult time. Despite the pain, the trauma of it being my first accident and having lost my almost-paid-off car, I was still able to find a joke or two. I’ve learned that there are so many things in life that are way beyond my control. I’ve also learned that my attitude and mindset has so much power over my situations. I can either choose to be angry and complain or I can choose to look at the blessings and find humor. Lately I’ve been choosing the latter and have found that those difficult times that just seem so monumental are only temporary, but having the wrong attitude and mindset will make them last longer. So here’s to finding a reason to laugh or smile in all the tough times 2019 may bring! 🙂

Never stop striving to be better

We are not done learning, growing, messing up, starting over. As long as we have breath we should always strive to do better and to be better. There have been times just this year alone where I found myself sinking into complacency. It’s so easy to get there and to even stay there because it gets comfortable and the excuses become our bed. This year I learned that if I want to be a better wife, family member, friend, employer, leader, goal-getter, whatever, then I have to constantly work at it. It’s not enough to just say or talk about things; my actions, my lifestyle, how I treat people must align. I gotta walk it like I talk it!

What has 2018 taught you? I’d love to hear! Comment below.

Live well,

Related

Living New Year Wellness
by Sherelle Gilbert 
Leave a Comment

About Sherelle Gilbert

Sherelle Gilbert, MSW | Founder & Editor of She Experienced... | Co-Founder of The Ladies Lounge

View all posts by Sherelle Gilbert

Related Posts

  • To have loved and lost…
  • …still hopeful, but not excited
  • Our letter to infertility
  • Updates: Where are we on this journey?
previous article: Why you need to visit Clean Juice
next article: Introducing “She Apparel”

What do you think? Cancel reply

About

Welcome to She Experienced, my lifestyle blog where I share all my experiences from beauty to mental health and everything in between! Grab a chai latte and stay a while :)

She Experienced… the YouTube Channel

Search

Archives

Be Social

Get the “She Inspires” Weekly Devotional!

Sign up for my inspirational weekly devotional today!

*No SPAM

Categories

Beauty + Fashion

Inspiration

Living

Wellness

Recent Posts

  • How to be a successful plant mom
    How to be a successful plant mom
    Home, Living
  • What 2020 has taught me
    Inspiration, Wellness
  • What you should know about Miscarriage
    Infertility, Inspiration

Stickers Collection

  • she is worthy sticker "she worthy" sticker $2.50
  • God is faithful sticker "God is faithful" sticker $2.50
  • Girl Boss sticker "girl boss" sticker $2.50
  • No rain, no flowers sticker "no rain, no flowers" sticker $3.50

Loving the Skin I’m In..

Recent Posts

  • How to be a successful plant mom
    How to be a successful plant mom
    Home, Living
  • What 2020 has taught me
    Inspiration, Wellness
  • What you should know about Miscarriage
    Infertility, Inspiration

Subscribe to “She News…”

Sign up for all the latest "She News..."! Be the first to know about new products in 'She Apparel', discounts, new blog posts and much more!

*No SPAM

Instagram @sheexperienced

Nothing but laughter when we link up 🤣 It’s Nothing but laughter when we link up 🤣

It’s also my mom’s birthday! So join me in wishing my favorite girl, my mommy @ms_dap21 a very happy birthday! So glad I got to see you, hug you and enjoy you this weekend. You are everything to me and more 💕
•
•
•
#sheexperienced #mommydaughtertime #birthdaygirl #family #fun #minivacay #browngirlbloggers #virginiabeach
This past weekend we got to celebrate a very speci This past weekend we got to celebrate a very special birthday for a very special woman, my aunt @valbsweet. She doesn’t realize how much we love and appreciate her and all that she does for our family. Surprising her with a mini vacation/girls trip was something we all needed after the crazy 2020 we had. Sharing laughs, reminiscing on the good old days, trying to stay up late, dancing, eating, enjoying the sunrise and the sunset and just being in the presence of each other made this surprise so special and memorable.

Help me wish my aunt (she’s in the orange in the first photo) a happy birthday 🎉 
•
•
•
#sheexperienced #family #fun #girlstrip #virginiabeach #virginiabeachoceanfront #50thbirthday #birthdaysurprise #surprisetrip #browngirlbloggers
#irepresentsomeonewho is tired of fighting but fin #irepresentsomeonewho is tired of fighting but finds strength, courage and faith each day to keep going.

We all know this journey called infertility is hard, but what has kept me going is not only the promise God gave me but also His constant reassurance that there is purpose in this pain. I don’t think I truly realized what God placed on the inside of me until I’ve gone through the fires of infertility.

I may be in the fire but I will not be burned, these flames will not consume me (Isaiah 43:2). I will come out of this thing better than when I came in. 

I represent someone who is not giving up despite what it looks or feels like and who continues to endure this journey believing that God will fulfill His promise 🧡🙌🏽

@resolveorg 
•
•
•
#sheexperienced #infertility #infertilitywarrior #niaw #niaw2021 #infertilityawareness #infertilitysucks #blackinfertility #blackinfertilitycommunity #womenofcolorinfertility #blackivf #browngirlbloggers #huntsvilleblogger #infertilityawarenessweek
When I started this journey I struggled to find wo When I started this journey I struggled to find women who looked like me. Sharing my story for the purpose of breaking stigmas and advocating for women of color dealing with infertility has allowed me to connect with some amazing warriors. 

As women of color, we want you to know that we are also 1 in 8. Infertility has affected us all. This is National Infertility Awareness Week 2021 and we are amplifying our voices so that others know they don’t have to suffer in silence 🧡

I have tagged some accounts for you to follow, pray for and support on their journey:
@awkwardly_infertile
@glowful.path
@krystledchavez
@brokenbrownegg
@blackgirllivinginaivfworld
@_asiabcash 
@god_isgracious
@thisistam_
@patience.is.a.virtue.ivf
@christinanrodriguez
@blackwomenandinfertility
@curlyhairedclermont
@infertilityandmepodcast
@fruitfuluwithashley
@fillingemptywombs
@marilynbgomez
@raisingaangel
@sistersinloss
@denisesteps
@fromright2left
@awaiting.a.promise
@mytransparentmoments
@Mrs.j.Higgins
Today I got to visit @eattheveggie_ for the first Today I got to visit @eattheveggie_ for the first time since opening! I have been dying to get over here and was so happy to finally step foot in the cafe 🌱 I remember when @chefadyre first started the Veggie doing meal prep and pop-ups and I was so amazed by the creative ways she veganized popular feel-good dishes. To see how her dream has blossomed, how her story continues to unfold and how she keeps going despite life’s challenges is such an inspiration to me!

I’ve been wanting to share my experience since they first announced their opening. Today I tried the Buffalo shrimp po’boy with the fries and it was so good and had a nice little kick 🔥😋 If you are in the area and have yet to try the Veggie, run, don’t walk, right over!

Also, have a cute photo moment by the plant wall. It’s a vibe 🪴 
•
•
•
#sheexperienced #browngirlbloggers #huntsvilleblogger #huntsvilleinfluencer #blackownedbusiness #huntsvilleblackownedbusiness #theveggie #eattheveggie #veganfood
Walking into a new week like... (@fabletics #fable Walking into a new week like... (@fabletics #fableticspartner)

I started my morning with some gratitude. Today I am thankful for the sunshine ☀️, I’m thankful I had a great weekend and got to see some faces I haven’t seen since the pandemic 🥰 and thankful for God’s favor 🙌🏽

What are you thankful for on this Monday? Let me know in the comments! 
•
•
•
#sheexperienced #myfabletics #kickbuttlookcute #fabletics #thankfulmonday #browngirlbloggers #huntsvilleblogger #livewell #infertilityawarenessadvocate #infertilitywarrior
Follow me

Copyright © 2021 · Prima Donna theme by Georgia Lou Studios

Copyright © 2021 · Prima Donna on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in