39 Things I've Learned

In honor of my parents having a 39-year-old kid this month, I thought I'd write down a few things I've learned.

1. Thank others.

2. Thank God.

3. People will surprise you...in good ways and in bad ones.

4. Know thyself.

5. There are many secrets to life...I think love, travel, pets, and girlfriends are just a few of them.

6. No job is perfect.

7. It's good to have dreams. They may not come true.

8. "Turn it around." I talk more about that here.

9. "Hide your crazy and start acting like a lady." Courtesy of country singer Miranda Lambert.

10. Listen to words but really pay attention to one's actions.

11. Portmanteaus are awesome. No, wait - they're fantabulous!

12. Love God. (Matthew 22:37)

13. Love one another. (1 John 4:7)

14. Science is hard. Not for everyone, but for me. Even though I had the best dang chemistry teacher ever.

15. I'm grateful for Anthony every day in a hundred little ways.

16. Save for retirement!!! (Mom and Dad)

17. Marriage is hard. (Did I just BLOW your mind with this new information?!?)

18. I've learned how to be "Facebook official." Even though I'm not "Facebook official" right now because Anthony changed it. :(

19. I admire anyone who had to learn English as a second language. And here's just one example why: "I have a rough cough, though."

20. In life, you can get bitter, or you can get better. My favorite quote from one of my favorites pastors.

21. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. A true statement way before Kelly Clarkson belted it out.

22. Things happen in God's time. In the right season. (Psalms 1:3)

23. Drink water!! This is hard for me. Wisdom from Anthony: "Drink water. You'll be fine."

24. Turning 25 was somewhat traumatic for me because it was "halfway to 30." I survived to tell that fascinating tale.

25. Don't envy someone else. I'm not in their shoes or in their head.

26. Books are another secret to life. Never stop learning.

27. Also...you can't have too many books. You might disagree if you live with me.

28. Speaking of too many...you can't have too many shoes. (I KNOW the person who lives with me disagrees...)

29. I imagine that you can't have too many gold bricks. I'll let you know if I ever get one.

30. God's answers are usually one of these three: yes, no, and later.

31. Life is a gift.

32. Life is a journey.

33. Life can be a party.

34. Emojis are fun.

35. PTSD is the answer to negative thinking. I talk more about that here.

36. We are our own worst critic.

37. Thirty-nine lessons is more than I realized...

38. Don't worry. (Sage advice and also just sent to me by Montse!) (Phil. 4:6-7)

39. Last but not least...We are a little hurt/damaged/cracked. We are all beautifully broken.