33 and counting

Things I have learned in my 33 years:

1. Wear sunscreen, you WILL get tan, and you won't peel!
2. Don't wait for someone to take care of you. Only you know how best to take care of yourself.
3. Say kind things to yourself, you really are your own best friend. This I have learned, and continue to learn on a daily basis. Rule of thumb: would you EVER say the things you say to yourself to your friends, lover, or your children? If not, you shouldn't say it to yourself either...
4. Be brave. Being brave doesn't mean you know how, or that you aren't scared. Being brave is trusting you own decisions, and who you really are. Being brave gives you a strength and understanding of how the world works, and that its not as big and scary as it feels sometimes. Always ask if the fear is bigger than the regret you will feel if you don't do it.
5. Be thankful everyday. There will always be someone that has more than you, but, in the true balance of life, there are some that don't have what you do.
6. Be kind. Sometimes it comes back, sometimes it doesn't. Kindness should come from the pleasure of doing so.
7. Don't take things personally... remember we all have our own perspectives on life, and no one knows better than you how to live yours.
8. Let people love and see you for who you really are. Scars and all.
9. Don't sell yourself short, stand with your head held high, and don't apologize for who or what you are.. You are who you are in this moment because of where you have been, and you deserve respect.
10. Your children are their own separate people, here to experience their own life. Guide them, and love them, but it is not necessary to project your pain on them. They will never experience what you did, and they will have their own perspectives and pains. Love and accept who they are, and let them hear you say nice things about them to other people...
11. For every person that stands in judgement, there is one that accepts you. You cannot please everyone all of the time. So, do what feels right, and don't question yourself.
12. Give random people compliments.. you never know who might be having a horrible day, just to be made better by being told they look beautiful.
13. Consider what true beauty is, and stop trying to force yourself into a mold that damages the true shape of who you are.
14. People see what you project... they can't see deep inside of your pain.. even though it feels like you wear it on the outside of you body..
15. Its ok to be loud. If you can remember there are times to be quiet. hee.
16. Doing housework on a daily basis, and keeping up on laundry is much easier than wasting a Saturday trying to get it done...
17. Making new friends in lines at the store, in the elevator, or while trying on shoes, sometimes embarrasses your children. But, they get to see real human communication, so I will continute to do it. Besides, it makes me happy.
18. Communicating your needs to people is essential. As much as I would like to think he "should" know, or that he can read my mind, its not true. Get what you need, by asking for it. Be prepared for no, if someone is not willing.
19. Live your life with no regrets. If you were to lose the most important person in your life tomorrow, know that you loved them, and were the kindest you could possibly be to them. Make sure they know you love them, even if they have hurt you.
20. Let yourself trust people. Its scary, and sometimes they don't deserve it. But, it frees you of expectations.
21. Waiting to do things until you have lost weight, or gotten the housework done, just makes you sad when you realize no one would have cared about either of those things in the first place.
22. Let your husband love you for all the things you don't like about yourself. Accept that he sees it differently than you do, and then trust it.
23. Dare to wear pink pants. Goodness knows, if you can get away with pink hair, you can get away with pink pants.
24. Cry when you feel like it, and be there when someone else needs to do the same.
25. Let your kids build a fort with the couch cushions, even if company is coming over. They will remember that longer than the clean house when guests were there.
26. Never try to move a piano when you are 8 months pregnant, or across the linoleum floor. It's never worth it.
27. Give the Barista, or your waitress an extra tip. It makes them feel like what they do matters. And we all deserve that.
28. Speak your truth, and keep peoples secrets.
29. Be the friend you have always wanted.
30. Let your kid wear a box on his head, and a cape to school, even when every fiber of your being tells you he will get teased. It allows him to have is own experience, and if he does get teased, he will know better for next time.
31. Dare to longboard, even if you look chubby. Even if you are afraid of falling on your chubby butt. The pride is worth it, and the added bonus of spending time with your family doing something fun is invaluable.
32. Wear a helmet and pads when you longboard. You look like a huge dork, but when you hit the curb, you will be happy that you did.
33. Do things for people because you want them to know you love them. Let it come from your heart, and do it without expectation of anything in return, even if their reaction hurts your feelings.