Today is my birthday.
Birthdays have a way of making us pause and look back. They remind us not only of how much time has passed, but also of how much we have grown. As I reflect on the past year, I am grateful to God for every lesson, every challenge, every opportunity, and even every disappointment that helped shape who I am becoming.
Looking back, three lessons stand out above all others.
Every Second Counts
One of the hardest truths I learned this year is that time is not just valuable. It is limited.
For years, I felt overwhelmed by everything I wanted to accomplish. There were goals to pursue, people to spend time with, opportunities to explore, and responsibilities to manage. No matter how hard I tried, there never seemed to be enough hours in the day.
Then a friend asked me a simple question.
“What are you doing with all the time you already have?”
The question stopped me in my tracks.
When I looked honestly at my life, I realized that much of my time was being consumed by things that were not helping me grow. I was saying yes too often. I was carrying commitments I no longer needed. I was allowing distractions to steal time from the things that mattered most.
The problem was not that I lacked time.
The problem was that I lacked focus.
That realization forced me to make some difficult decisions. I had to let go of activities, habits, and expectations that no longer aligned with the person I wanted to become.
The result was something I had not felt in a long time: peace.
From that moment forward, I decided that every decision I make should move me closer to the woman I hope to become. Not everyone agrees with my choices, and not everyone will understand them. That is okay.
You cannot build the life you want while spending your time living according to everyone else’s expectations.
Every second counts. Spend it on what matters.
God Cannot Direct a Stationary Person
For as long as I can remember, I have loved fashion.
Not just modeling, but styling, creative direction, design, and everything connected to the industry. It was a dream I carried quietly for years, but one I never truly believed could become reality.
Like many people, I convinced myself that dreams were for other people.
Then something unexpected happened.
While working at Home Depot, a customer noticed me and suggested I consider modeling. He happened to be a photographer and offered to help me build a portfolio.
At first, I was skeptical. Opportunities like that rarely appear out of nowhere. Part of me wanted to dismiss it and move on.
Instead, I decided to take a chance.
That single decision changed the trajectory of my life.
One photo shoot led to another. One connection led to more opportunities. I began working with photographers, participating in fashion shows, styling creative projects, and building relationships with people who encouraged my growth.
What surprised me most was not how much my circumstances changed.
It was how much I changed.
I became more confident. More willing to take risks. More willing to believe that God could do more with my life than I had imagined.
The lesson was simple.
God often reveals the next step after we take the first one.
Many of us spend years waiting for certainty before we move. We want every detail of the journey before we begin. Yet faith rarely works that way.
Sometimes God simply asks us to take one step.
The path becomes clearer as we walk it.
I am still building my brand. I am still learning and growing. Yet I can confidently say that doors began opening when I was willing to move, even with shaky faith.
Embrace Every Season
The final lesson I learned at twenty-two is that every season has something to teach us.
Not every year will be filled with victories. Some seasons bring disappointment, delays, heartbreak, uncertainty, and questions we cannot immediately answer.
For a long time, I thought happiness depended on everything going according to plan.
Life taught me otherwise.
Real growth often happens in the seasons we would never choose for ourselves.
The difficult moments force us to develop resilience. The setbacks teach patience. The failures reveal weaknesses that need strengthening. Even the detours serve a purpose.
Scripture reminds us of this truth in Romans 8:28:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Notice that it says all things.
Not just the victories.
Not just the breakthroughs.
All things.
The good, the difficult, the confusing, and the unexpected.
Everything has the potential to shape us if we are willing to learn from it.
I have learned to allow myself to feel disappointment without allowing it to define me. I have learned that setbacks are not permanent. I have learned that every season carries lessons that prepare us for what comes next.
Looking back, I would not trade those lessons for anything, as they have helped make me who I am today.
As I step into another year, I do so with gratitude. Not because life has been perfect, but because God has been faithful through every season.
If there is one thing I hope you remember from my journey, it is this:
Protect your time.
Take the first step.
Embrace every season.
You may not realize it today, but the life you want is often built one decision, one act of faith, and one lesson at a time. That journey begins now.
Risper Ondijo was born in Kenya and came to America in 2007 when she was 12 years old. Her culture makes up a huge chunk of who she is, and is obsessed with it. She has a deep love for her country and for Africa in general. She loves Christ with all her heart and is grateful to Him for showing her the true meaning of love. Just like everyone else, she sometimes finds life challenging, but she always strives to please her Heavenly Father.
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