So Megan Donald, co-worker and author of the blog A Beautiful Mess, and I celebrated decade birthdays in July of 2011. At our celebration lunch we decided we would both pen blog posts on some of the favorite things we’ve learned over the years. Just as I would have done at age 30, she finished her list on time (ambitious 30-year-old with great time management skills!). It’s January 2012 and I finally finished mine (overwhelmed 40-year-old who can’t even tell time anymore!). But I am still 40, right?
These are forty nuggets that have stuck with me. I numbered the list, but they are not in order of importance. I am not attempting to spout knowledge, so if you find this post pretentious, then please close your browser. If you enjoy reading it, then feel free to comment on your favorite.
1. I did not learn everything I need to know in kindergarten. What a hoax! I learn things – important things, things I definitely need to know – every day.
2. It is important to be present.
3. I can stop wanting to be important. Everyone is important to someone.
4. Rather than being good at everything, strive to be great at just a few.
5. In high school and college I had friends who encouraged me to “stop and smell the roses more often.” I love to smell the roses – and the sunflowers, and the tulips, and the lilies…
6. My personal motto that I penned 20 years ago still holds true: “Every woman needs her own Swiss Army knife, checking account, and sense of self. With these things she can do anything on her own.”
7. If your mother says to you, “I hope your daughter turns out to be exactly like you,” then you should be frightened and joyful at the same time because it will come true.
8. There is no vaccination that will fight a travel bug.
9. Small towns actually do have some big qualities.
10. Marketing is like painting. It always takes several coats to get the job done.
11. There is nothing wrong with having a checklist to find your future spouse. Just allow him or her also to bring a checklist to the table.
12. Good things come to those who wait upon the Lord. But if the Lord tells you to get up and go, then don’t wait another minute.
13. My instinct is right 99% of the time.
14. I will never be too old to appreciate a 64-pack of Crayola crayons.
15. It will take me the rest of my life to pursue all my ideas.
16. I believe a liberal arts education is fundamental to educating the “whole student.”
17. Both “hate” and “love” are strong words. Use them carefully.
18. I am happiest living on coastal waters, but the mountains also comfort me.
19. If you can, take the stairs and count your blessings with each step. Not everyone is able.
20. Not everyone wants to climb the corporate ladder and that is a good thing for teamwork. The best collaboration takes place between an alphabet soup of players – Type As, Type Bs, and so on.
21. There is no such thing as normal.
22. Parents don’t know everything, nor do they think they do.
23. In most cases it is better to focus on the outcome rather than credit – unless we’re talking about breaking the law and then we’re talking blame.
24. It all comes out in the wash (numerous interpretations apply here, including baby food on those tiny, perfect clothes).
25. You may be a role model and not even realize it. Try to live like you know you are one.
26. Love….well, love is strange.
27. Jeremiah 29: 11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
28. Only women empty the crumbs out of the toaster. This has huge implications on marriage or living with someone.
29. Before having children one should enjoy going to the potty alone. It will never happen again.
30. You will tell yourself that you will never say to your children, “Because I said so.” But you will.
31. Just because you are a girl with good hair, does not mean that you are good with girls’ hair.
32. This one time, when I was at band camp (for real, people!)…I suffered from heat exhaustion and had to go to the hospital via ambulance. And – you guessed it – I was wearing dirty socks, which my grandma warned me to never do. Never again.
33. Sometimes you have to forget the gold stars and do something just because it makes you happy (like writing a blog).
34. Kids hear things that you think they don’t.
35. The art of doing nothing sure takes a lot of something.
36. Naps cure a lot of things at any age.
37. It really bothers me when people complain freely without proposing an alternative solution.
38. I prefer pie over cake. This may or may not be a reflection of my personality.
39. Forty-nine percent of our happiness is genetic. We control the other 51 percent.
40. Life is good. You should try it.
-Melissa
