37 Life Lessons

I am 37 years old today. THIRTY SEVEN.

Back in my 20's, the thought of being in my 30's seemed so old to me. Now that I am deeply entrenched in my thirties and closer to forty than thirty, I am thinking that being in my thirties is actually quite young.

Did I tell you that I got carded for buying alcohol a few weeks ago? I was buying it for "my friend". (ahem)

Since I am so old and wise, maybe just old, I thought I would share some life lessons I have learned through the years, for all it's worth.

1. Dance, really dance and shake your booty, when noone is looking. Hell, do it even when someone is looking. If the mood strikes you to cut loose like your are an actor on Footloose, then JUST DO IT. It will keep you young.

2. You only have one body that you were given. Love it and cherish it. It is YOURS until the day you die.

3. If you mess up, whether verbally or otherwise, and you know you messed it, when you are ready, say these three little words- I AM SORRY. It does wonders at healing the wound. You MUST be sincere about your apology, though.

4. Do not leave the house without donning a bra. Just promise me that you will wear a bra out in public. This, of course, is aimed at my female readers, which I assume account for 99.9% of my readership.

5. Respect your elders. Period, the end.

6. Laugh. At yourself. At life's funny situations. At other people (I'm just kidding about this one....sort of). My best laughs have come at my own expense.

7. Treat yourself to a pedicure once in a while. You are worth it and your feet will thank you.

8. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

9. Practice does make perfect, although sometimes "luck" plays a part.

10. Have a back-up in place for your harddrive. Trust me on this one.

11. The phone is always better than email. I'm just sayin'.

12. Sleep does a body good. I wonder how I can get more of it.

13. If you think something nice about someone else "in your head" and they happen to be around you, then "share" that nice thing with that person. You can so easily make that person's day. Now doesn't that feel good?

14. Take a shower. Every day. Or else you might smell.

15. Surround yourself with the bestest of friends. My mom always told me that "you are who you hang out with". Of course, she said that to me when I was in high school. Regardless, she was RIGHT- then and now.

16. Do not be stingy with hugs and kisses, saying I LOVE YOU. Say and do often. Every single day.

17. Take lots of pictures.

18. At least once in your life, do something totally wild and crazy and not the norm for YOU. For example, once when I was in Vegas....... : ).

19. When you are completely stressed out, it feels REALLY REALLY good to scream at the top of your lungs, as loud as you can, as hard as you can, as long as you can. Do this when you are alone so as NOT to alarm your loved ones.

20. Invest in a good "waxist", or whatever they are called...you know, the lady who waxes your eyebrows. If you get a bad one, you could end up with NO eyebrows. Why does the eyebrow lady always ask me if I want my chin waxed too? Why oh why?

21. The only one who can truly make you happy is you. Think about that one.

22. Choose your battles wisely,whether with your spouse, significant other, parents, children, friends.

23. If you don't have anything nice to say, than don't say anything at all.

24. A glass of wine can take the edge off, you know, if you need the edge taken off. Or so I have heard.

25. Don't sweat the small stuff. I am trying so hard NOT to sweat the small stuff.

26. My husbands says that a clean, washed and vacuumed car drives faster and smoother. I think he might be right.

27. You know what makes folding laundry a little easier to stomach? Watching Oprah while doing it. Or better yet, having your husband help you while you BOTH watch Oprah.

Here is where I pause for a breathe and realize that I am all out of life lessons. Thirty-seven is the magic number, not twenty-seven. I am not twenty-seven years old. I NEED thirty-seven life lessons and I'm tapped out. So, I called some of my bloggy friends to help me out and they came through with flying colors. With a little help from my friends, here are the rest of my (their) life lessons.

28. Be still. It's amazing what you'll hear when "things" are turned off, you have no place to be, no thing to do, and you can just "be". And do not buy into the lie that there is always someplace to go and something to do. Or if you do believe that, then no worries! It will be waiting for you when you are done! Stephanie, Adventures in Babywearing

29. Do not be afraid to fail. We learn from our failures; therefore, from failure comes success. April, My Life at Thirty

30. Kim, Prairie Mama, sent several life lessons and I love them all.

• Remember who your children are. They are Children of God and are so very precious. Remember that they are on loan to us, that it is our responsibility to treat them like the Divine beings that they are and make sure they know about God. They are so precious -- remember who they are.
• Swing with your kids. When you go to the park, don't just push the swing, but get in one and have fun!
• Let them see you cry. It's ok to cry in front of your children, let them see you have emotions other than happy and joyful. It teaches them how to deal with their own emotions.
• Take walks everyday. not only is it good for your physical health, but vital for your emotional well being.

31. CELEBRATE. Celebrate the little things, the big things, just find something to celebrate every day you're alive. If you do something fabulous, throw yourself a party. Invite friends over to share in your joy. And when those friends do something equally fabulous, let them know how much of their joy you feel. If the sun is shining, celebrate by going for a walk to the park. If it's raining, celebrate by curling up in bed with a good book. If you have a sorrow, celebrate the day that sorrow lifts from your shoulders--even if it's only temporary. If you get a bad haircut, celebrate with a new hat. Just remember that in life, there is a time to weep, but there's also a time to laugh and a time to dance. Never underestimate the sheer power of those times and celebrate every single day you're given in this world. Erin, School Teacher by Day Superhero by Night

32. Never judge someone parenting in public. You will guarantee that the maximum amount of people will be watching when your toddler pulls down his pants and poops in a Target aisle. Stacey, Any Mommy Out There

33. Life is too short to worry about what other people think. Have fun, do what you want to do, enjoy life. Jessica, my college BFF that I am visiting right now

34. Lisa, A (Really) Simple Life, also sent me a list of life lessons and they are just too good to only pick one.

• Ask a question, then *really* listen to the answer.
• Be present in every conversation you have. Focus on the person you are talking to and don't be distracted by what others may be saying around you. (even if the other conversations sound funner and more interesting.) Make eye contact as you speak. Make that person know that you are only interested in talking with *them* at that moment.
• Try your best not to be judgemental about how others live their lives. No one does it the same. What's 'normal' for me may be totally 'whacko' for you. Doesn't matter.
• Honor your kids. Listen to them closely. Don't belittle them or make fun of them. Let them have their say if there is controversy (esp in the teen years) and sometimes let them 'win'..

35. Don't put off 'til tomorrow what you need to say today. Christy, Real Life Adventures

36. Foolishness comes to harm. It is the motto my mother always told us when we were little and doing foolish things. I still use it to this day, lol. Laura, Mommy from the Midwest

37. People are way more important than things. Period, the end.

Don't let anybody steal your joy. Joel Osteen

And today I am joyous! As I wrote this post and as I received responses from my bloggy friends, I thoroughly enjoyed reading what they had to say. They are so SMART and wise. I would like to invite each and every one of you to leave your own "life lesson" in the comments section. Your words mean so much to me.

Anyhoo, as you read this, I will be swimming and boating on the lake and spending quality time with my friend Jessica, her family and my family. In the sunshine, on the water, maybe having a drink or two.

I am pretty sure that I am LOVING IT.