Yesterday marked 42 trips around the sun for me. It’s crazy to me that I’m 42. It doesn’t sound old when I hear other people say they are 42, or even older, but to me it sounds older than I feel. Maybe that’s because I didn’t imagine 42 would feel this good. I mean, I’m doing better in every sense of the word than I was at 22 or 32.
Yesterday I found myself glad. Glad I am here; healthy, happy and growing more confident by the day. Glad for a low key day with Adam and the boys. There wasn’t anything spectacular about the day. We took the morning slowly. We ran some errands. We went on a walk. We ate dinner at my favorite sushi restaurant and then had my favorite brownies (King Arthur- you must try them!) a la mode while my three favorite guys sang “Happy Birthday.” Nothing grande, but the day in and of itself felt pretty damn spectacular.
Reminiscing on things I’ve learn, many very recently, in my 42 years I felt compelled to share some lessons that have meant the most.
1. Life is long. There’s no rush to get there.
2. There’s no there. There is here and now and if you’re always pushing to get there, you’re missing out on the best parts of your life.
3. Life may also be shorter than you expect. Never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them and what they mean to you. Make the call. Send the text.
4. You only get one body. Take good care of her.
5. Food matters. Feed yourself with foods that fuel and nourish you a majority of the time.
6. What you think and believe matters. Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right. Feed yourself with good thoughts even more than you feed yourself good food.
7. Say you’re sorry when you realize you’re wrong. You don’t need to hold onto that shit.
8. Experts and Specialists don’t always know what is best for you.
9. Take advice with a grain of salt. Always do your own research and ask yourself, “Does this make sense to me? Does it make sense for me?”
10. A good dog is worth their weight in gold. Treasure them as such.
11. Parenting is hard. Being a good parent is really f*cking hard.
12. Life is gonna life you. It’s not you. It’s just that shit happens sometimes.
13. Stop saying you’re fine if you aren’t. You’re allowed to have bad days. You’re allowed to want things to be different than they are. Fine is your new f-word if you aren’t actually fine.
14. Stop procrastinating. You’re stopping yourself from living full out. Stop it.
15. Procrastination is a habit (usually a sign of fear), not a personality trait.
16. Books > Movies.
17. The Princess Bride is the best movie ever.
18. You can be healthier at 42 than you were at 22 or 32. Keep going. Keep growing.
19. If it’s important to you, it’s important.
20. Stay strong in your convictions. Don’t be swayed just because it’s unpopular.
21. Believe people when they show you who they are. Actions show what words cannot.
22. You can’t change someone. You live much more peacefully when you stop trying to.
23. Chaperoning kindergarteners on a field trip is equivalent to herding cats hopped up on cocaine. Just know that going in.
24. You’re supported. There are signs all around, and once you see them, you’ll never stop seeing them.
25. Being brave doesn’t mean it’s not scary. Do it anyways.
26. Challenge things that don’t make sense to you. This includes things you used to be okay with.
27. Boundaries are not cruel. Boundaries protect you from guilt, overwhelm and energy sucks.
28. You are doing so much better than you give yourself credit for.
29. If you know you’re not living to your fullest potential, knock if off and start making some changes so you are your best.
30. Gratitude doesn’t change your circumstances, but it might make you feel better about them. Sometimes that’s the difference you need.
31. Gluten free eating is a game changer.
32. Your body has not forsaken you. She is fighting really hard to return you to balance. Always.
33. You have to save yourself.
34. Kids are the greatest, most frustrating, challenging and beautiful experience of life. They are human sour patch kids, and damn do I love mine.
35. Find a man who loves you enough to support you, but who will also call you on when you are getting off track.
36. Entrepreneurship is hard. If you know someone with their own business, support them however you can.
37. Your friends matter. Surround yourself with people who genuinely love you and are moving in a similar direction as you want to.
38. Essential oils are incredible tools for healing. (Just make sure they are quality oils!)
39. Music impacts the soul and is the fastest way to flip your mood.
40. Sometimes a journal is the best medicine.
41. Putting everyone else’s feelings above your own is a quick route to resentment and becoming a shell of yourself.
42. If someone asked you, “what do you want?” And you cannot answer that, make it your mission to re-meet yourself.
