I’m the big 4-0 today! Wow, can’t believe it, FORTY! The old saying is true, the days are long but the years fly by. . . I truly am thankful that I have made it to see another year, graced and favored to even see this age. There are many who didn’t make it to be 40 years old, so I’ll wear it with grace, honor and dignity. (And blush 
that I’m still getting carded 
)
Melanin Still Poppin’
In the forty years I have been here on this beautiful Earth, I must say I’ve learned a whole lot, and there’s still a lot more that am learning and growing in. I wanted to share just a few things I’ve learned and experienced in these years, so here are forty things I’ve learned, ten of which are things I’ve learned about God, ten things about Business, ten about Beauty, and ten about Life. Of course this list is not all inclusive, as I’m sure you know I’ve learned and experienced a whole lot more than forty things in the past forty years I’ve been alive. But I thought I’d touch on some things that are near and dear to me that I wanted to share, and I hope that you will be encouraged by them.
10 THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT GOD
*God Doesn’t Make Mistakes, But Those Who He Created Make Plenty of Them
*God Doesn’t Help Those Who Help Themselves, He Helps Those Who Trust In Him
*When You Rest In God, You Trust In Him, but Resting (Trusting) Takes Work
*God’s Promises Will Come to Pass But You Have to Hold On and Remind Yourself of the Promises Made for Your Life
*When We Take God at His Word, He has No Choice but to Prove Himself
God didn’t create the struggles and stumbling blocks, but he created you to be an overcomer of those struggles and to get over the stumbling blocks with His help.
*God created us to be winners, so he hates when we quit because that’s the only way to lose is by quitting and giving up on our faith in Him.
*He said get dressed for the battle, but He never told us to Fight Them; He fights for us.
*God gave us the power to speak our existence just as He did, and expects us to do it!
*God is a healer; physical, emotional, spiritual, and I am a witness and have experienced it.
10 THINGS IVE LEARNED ABOUT BUSINESS
*Friendship ends where business begins
*Business Success is born out of Business struggles
*When it seems the hardest, keep pushing forward
*Don’t expect support, invest in support
*If it was easy, everyone would do it
*The success you see today was born out of many sleepless nights
*Dollars Don’t Have Loyalty, But People Who Make Dollars Should
*Being a blessing in others businesses is sowing a seed into your own success
*You must always evolve to prevent extinction
*Imagination is Cool, Implementation is Necessary
10 THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT BEAUTY
Kicking Down Old Beauty Standards
*Being Your Own Kind of Beauty Means Ignoring the Stares of Others
*Beauty Is In The Eye of The Beholder, So Look In the Mirror and Behold Yourself!
*Lashes & Lipstick are the Only Makeup Tools I Desire, but I don’t need them
*Perfect Is Boring & Unreal
*Beautiful People Rock Conficence Without Questioning if It’s Suitable for the Occasion
*No Matter How Plain a Woman May Be, If Truth and Integrity Are Written Across her face, She Will be Beautiful
*Wisdom is Beauty That Will Never Age Nor Fade Away
*The Illusion of Beauty Can Leave You Blind to What True Beauty Is
*Investing In Your Beauty Doesn’t Mean Your Superficial
*Loving Who You Were Created to Be Gives You the Keys to Reign & Shine
10 THINGS IVE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE
*Just because you didn’t have a great start in life doesn’t mean the rest of your life has to follow the same pattern.
*In life we make mistakes, but we have to forgive ourselves before others will.
*Don’t Run Behind Anyone Who Won’t Walk Towards You
*You Defeat Your Enemies When You Quit Talking About Them, Although they may still have your name in their mouths
*If You Don’t Fit In Someone Else’s Comfort Zone, It’s Okay because Great Minds Rarely Fit Into Small Spaces
*Some Friendships are Seasonal, Some Friendships come in the Right Season of your life for Life, and Some People are just not seasoned that have come into your life so they can’t stay.
*You can Gain Victory After Defeat, But You Don’t Have to Be Defeated to Gain Victory
*Experience Is a Good Teacher, But Learn the Lessons That She Teaches So You Don’t Repeat It
*What doesn’t Kill You Will NOT Make You Stronger. . . Your Decision to Continue Living Through What Didn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger!
*Never Worship People, Because People Can & WILL Let You Down
What can I say about all these years? Sometimes just plain boring and uneventful, and at other times almost chaotic and unbearable! But I’m so extremely grateful that of all these years and all the joys, pains, ups and downs, I didn’t throw in the towel, nor did anything else defeat me or take me out. I believe I have a whole lot more to do, and lot more to see, and most importantly a lot more people to reach, support, encourage and help to grow. For it is from our experiences that we can help others who are on that same path or headed that way. Forty years, graced, favored and loved by God most importantly, and blessed to have my family still, I can say that these years haven’t been all bad. Yes, I’ve been through much and sometimes I was like “God, why me!!!”, but looking back on it all, I’m a survivor, a strong woman and strong in faith. And that’s why I’m still here; #purpose.
Wishing You a Successful Beauty-Filled Journey,
Elizabeth Jennings💕 , The Minister Of Beauty (TM)
