38 & What I Know So Far

This week is my 38th birthday, it also is on the first day of school for my kiddos. I find it interesting that significant school dates happen to fall on my birthday. On my 30th birthday my son started kindergarten, now here we are 8 years later and my daughter is starting high school, on my birthday. I already feel old people, I don’t need this added layer! The faster the kiddos grow, the faster I age. One might think this is a negative thing, I find it’s not for me. It’s calming, I have learned so much over the years and I find myself heading quickly towards my 40’s in a much better place than I found myself approaching my 20’s and 30’s. To celebrate my birthday I thought I’d make this blog all about me. 😉 The things I know, the things I’ve learned, and the things that make me, me. You might be thinking to yourself, “well this will only take forever!” I’ll spare you, don’t worry. Included is a list of 38 things I’ve learned so far. My hope is that you find your similar lessons listed in mine, and maybe, learn something new yourself.

1) Family is by far the most valuable thing you can have in this life, however, your family isn’t always the one you were born into.

2) I can not and should not work harder for you than you work for yourself.

3) Jump! As often as you can and as fearless as you can be. Even if you fall, sometimes learning you will survive is the lesson all along.

4) Forgive. Openly, freely, and often. Forgiveness will always be about you and has nothing to do with them.

5) Own your shit. Own who you are in every aspect. Be as proud of your shit as you are your shine. You can’t have one without the other. Even farmers use shit to grow.

6) I am easily distracted, and tend to live zoned out. Sorry!

7) Listen! I never realized all I missed just waiting for my turn to speak.

8) Time is a mind fuck. Be aware of it. Once gone it never comes back. This is especially true with your children.

9) It is impossible to be a perfect parent. Acknowledge your faults, apologize for your hurts, and love them purely. Especially when they don’t seem to deserve it.

10) My hair is crazy and untamable. Much like myself I guess. Embrace the wild and it eventually will embrace you back. Just call Mrs, Frizzle y’all.

11) Not all animals will love you back, no matter how much you love them first. I still want to hug a bear, sorry not sorry.

12) Number 11 goes for people too! Also still want to hug a bear. Missed opportunity living near San Francisco. 😉 😉

13) Learn to live with the let go. We aren’t meant to hold onto everything or everyone.

14) I was never meant to control or shape my children. I was meant to love them.

15) Your children will absolutely try to test that love. Be their constant, even when you feel battered and abused.

16) Disneyland is truly a happy place. Make the time to go there. When you do, pack snacks!

17) Love your body, for how it is and not what you think it should be. Finally accepting and loving the skin I’m in is allowing me to create the skin I deserve.

18) Get a tattoo if you want, or don’t. Just don’t judge based on either decision.

19) Buy crystals! Never underestimate the power of the earths energy. Also, they’re pretty.

20) Hate is real. We can’t pretend it doesn’t exist. We also don’t have to give it power. Let ones hate be their burden, not yours.

21) Love will always be stronger than hate, you just have to be strong enough to love someone that hates.

22) Your 20’s are made for screw ups. Stop creating a perfect facade, post the double chin shot as fast as the perfect booty shot. Talk about your giant “mistakes” as often as the brags!

23) Find the gratefulness in every relationship, even the ones that end. Even if all you have is hurt, be grateful for the scars, they make us tougher.

24) Change what you can, change your perspective on what you can’t. How we react will always be completely up to us.

25) You will always have fault, don’t be too big to see it. Blame is easier than acknowledgment but blame keeps you stuck. Acknowledging let’s you grow.

26) Marriage is work. Every day. It’s about two people growing and learning, and choosing to do so together. It takes both and it takes changing yourself and not trying to change the other.

27) Do not take your loved ones for granted. We don’t realize how many times we cross the same river until we’ve burned the bridges across them.

28) Be open to the now. Life isn’t about where you’re going, it’s about the path you create to get there.

29) Lift others up! There is room at the top for everyone. Remember, the toes we step on during the climb are connected to the asses we kiss on the way down.

30) I love all the cake. It does not love me back. Add this to number 11 also. (Still want to hug a bear)

31) Remember people are mirrors. What I judge in others I am truly judging in myself. Life is much more fun when you love yourself and allow yourself to love others. Even the ones that you love from afar.

32) Say NO. Our time and space is ours. We don’t have to share it with everyone. I’m stealing Cheryl’s phrase, “If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a NO!”

33) Travel! If you can afford a new iPhone you can afford a trip. It’s not about how much money it’s about how we choose to spend it. See your family, check out the beach, and spend time in the mountains.

34) Do not give what you can’t afford to lose. Money, time, emotions, energy. Give it, don’t sell it. If you can’t afford to give it with nothing in return, don’t. Life is pretty disappointing waiting for others to give more just because you did.

35) Live this life on your own terms. It is absolutely ok to be exactly who you want to be. We are free to make our own choices but we are never free of the consequences of those choices. You will always get back what you put out, so live accordingly.

36) Have pets, make time for them, love them! They are not meant to be something we own, but something we love. They are work, and worth every second of it.

37) Listen to music everyday. Sometimes you have to dance, and sometimes you have to sing, on the best days you do both.

38) Getting old is a privilege, own it! I don’t drink wine, but I sure as hell have gotten better with age.

Thank you for reading, for all the support of even being here. Here is to another year, I’m sure it’ll be the best one yet.