what i like about you (and me), the BIRTHDAY edition

today i am doing a special birthday edition of the what i like about you (and me) series because, not only is it my birthday today, it's naomi's too! so this is my little blog birthday present to you, naomi, my birthday buddy.

if you are new to the series, please read this for the ispiration.

there are about a trillion things that i like about naomi, so it's a little bit difficult to narrow it down. the name naomi means pleasant, delightful, honest, and beautiful. i think she definitely embodies all these characteristics and more. i like naomi's zest for life, her devotion to and adoration for her husband and her marriage, her humble attitude, her faith, and her killer wardrobe. but, i think, maybe what i like best about naomi is her joy and her sensitive spirit. you can't help but smile when you read naomi's blog. she takes such pleasure from the little things in life. she makes an effort to be truly happy every single day. she inspires me to choose happiness every single day. i swear that i have been a happier person since i started reading her blog. and i love naomi's sensitivity too. i love that she really feels things. i understand the benefits and drawbacks of a sensitive spirit because i possess one too. sometimes it's really difficult to feel things so fully. sometimes you have to feel a lot of pain and hurt, but the capacity for joy is so great, so whole, that it's all worth it.

now for me: i like my willingness to keep trying. sometimes things get really hard. sometimes i get really down on myself. sometimes my mind and my thoughts get stuck in really dark, dreary, sad places. but i always keep trying and fighting against those things. i am always thinking of ways to improve. ways to improve my attitude, my relationship with levi, my relationship with jesus, my appearance, my humanity, my communication, my blog, my friendships, everything. it can get exhausting, and i really do need to learn to be more forgiving and patient with myself, but i love my efforts. i love how much i care about so many things and people. i love how God is changing me and filling me up with so much love that i have extra. i love thinking of ways to spread the extra around. today i turn 27. and today, i can finally say that i love myself. i accept myself. i am excited to see what i do with this new year of life. i have every bit of confidence in myself that i'm going to make it a great year, an extraordinary year, unlike any other. i can't wait!

happy birthday to me, and happy birthday to my beautiful, new friend, naomi. we are both going to have amazing days and years. i just know it.