Life, so far...

41. Forty-one years old. Born in 1970. Wow.

So, in honor of, well... me, here's a list of what I've learned thus far in my life. In no particular order, mind you.

1. It's a good idea to have multiple pairs of sunglasses. Especially living here. You never know when the sun will poke its head out, and when it does, it can be blinding. You'll want the shades.

2. Beverly Hills, 90210 was a really good show. The old one. Not the current one. Wait - is the current one even still on?? And if so, why?

3. Pets are awesome. And necessary.

4. The smell of freshly mowed grass is good for the soul.

5. Giving compliments can make you feel good. Especially when given to strangers.

6. Receiving compliments ain't too bad either...

7. Reading is one of the best gifts God gave us.

8. Wine, too. :)

9. Having friends who love you and accept you for who you are is priceless.

10. There is nothing like the crack of a bat in spring. Well, except for the slap of a hockey puck in the fall for some people.

11. Owning a good, favorite pair of jeans is a must for everyone!

12. You should treat yourself to a massage every now and then. Massage = bliss.

13. Gossip really IS painful. At any age, it turns out.

14. Finding someone you can laugh with is of utmost importance.

15. Shockingly, we do turn into our parents. I can't believe some of the words/phrases that come out of my mouth when addressing my students. Ack!

16. Manners count.

17. I Want You Back is a really, really good song. I mean, obviously. Duh.

18. When you get a manicure with freshly painted pink fingernails, and two girls in your class come to school the next day with their own freshly painted pink fingernails... well, that's pretty cool.

19. Saying, "I'm sorry," can be life-saving. Or at least relationship-saving.

20. When all else fails, go shopping.

21. Learning to stick up for yourself is liberating.

22. Church is a good thing. Especially when I think about all the friends I've made at mine.

23. Keeping on top of your finances is a smart idea. Even though paying bills is a joy-sucker, it sure feels good when you're done.

24. If you're sick, stay home from work. And school.

25. On the couch, snuggled up, with a blanket and your favorite person, while it's pouring down rain outside, is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.

26. Growing up in a smallish town and working in that same small town is kind of cool!

27. Sun-block and a good moisturizer really do make a difference.

28. When you keep the change that was mistakenly given back to you, well, that's wrong.

29. Sometimes a good cry is just what the doctor ordered.

30. But after #29, make sure to sing really loudly to your favorite song. And for that, see #17.

31. You CAN make it through whatever hardship you're enduring. Trust me.

32. It's ok to say "I love you". Do it often. But mean it when you do.

33. Edamame at Red Hook, on the deck, when the sun is shining, with a cold beer, may just in fact be a little slice of heaven.

34. Take care of your knees. And your back.

35. Learn your parents' stories. They really were pretty cool people before they had us!

36. If I want my car to last, I need to stay on top of the maintenance and change the oil regularly.

37. Be nice.

38. Riding bikes while wearing thongs (flip-flops now, I know!) can be dangerous. Lesson learned.

39. Before turning on the sprinkler, you might want to check and make sure that all the windows are closed. Just sayin'.

40. We're never done learning and growing - how cool is that?

41. And finally... love really is all you need.

There you have it. Print this out and put it on your fridge. I've now solved all your problems. You're welcome!