I have had a pretty tough time the past few years. I have
lost loved ones, become a 50-something-year-old single empty-nester, changed
churches, changed jobs, and learned to run a household all on my own. Through it all, I have laughed a lot, cried a
lot and learned a lot.
I still don’t know everything, but these are the things - Life Lessons, if you will -
that I now know for sure….
1. Duct
tape fixes everything. And, it now comes in pretty patterns.
2. Everything
in your house is synchronized to fall apart at the same time.
3. As you
enter into your 50’s, your horizons continue to widen…and so does your backend
4. Nobody
loves you like your mama
5. My
daddy was the most brilliant man that ever lived
6. Contrary
to my southern upbringing, I don’t have to be sweet to everyone. And, everyone does not have to like me. I can say what I think. Much like a man does.
7. To get
children to listen to you, whisper
8. To get
appliance repair men to listen, bark like a big dog
9. The
best food you will ever eat, you eat at your mama’s table. Be careful what you put on your table. Do you want the best food your children will
ever eat to be chicken nuggets and spaghetti-o’s?
10. One
morning you will wake up and you will have experienced a role reversal. Your children will be “taking care” of you.
That means they will be telling you what to do.
11. I can
pray for the people I love, the people I don’t much like, world peace,
forgiveness, healing, grace, mercy and a good parking spot – and God blesses
all my prayers
12. Simple
things like watching the deer in my back yard make me as happy as a new pair of
shoes
13. When
you have a closet full of clothes with the price tags still on them, you got
too many clothes. YES! I said it!
I HAVE TOO MANY CLOTHES!
14. I don’t
have to speak with a fake, slightly Northern accent to appear to be intelligent. I can and do embrace my southerness whole
heartedly and I am an intelligent, experienced, successful professional. Dadgumit!
15. The
best things I have done in my life I did not do at work.
16. I
cannot always control everything. (Whew! Made me sweat to even type that!)
17. I don’t
always have to win. But, I sure do like to.
18. The
best antidepressant is to do something for someone else.
19. My
best memories come from my hardest times.
20. Nobody
can make me happy. Only I can do that.
Happiness is a choice
21. My
mother lives in my head and often pops out of my mouth
22. She
also lives in my mirror
23. My son
is smarter than me, but I am wiser
24. I can
go anywhere, be anybody and do anything.
I choose to be me right here doing what I am doing now. That is freedom.
25. Just
because you go to church with someone, or you have known someone your whole
life doesn’t mean they are your friend.
You only get a couple of true-blue friends in your lifetime and they do
not leave you.
26. I have
no patience for stupid
27. Most
times comfort trumps cute
28. I can
no longer skip lunch and lose 5 pounds.
29. My
happy place is my recliner on an early Saturday morning with a cup of coffee
and my Yorkie, Zeke, in my lap watching Lifetime movies. I am woman enough to
admit that.
30. The
ocean is the best tranquilizer in the world.
31. Children
do not have to be born to you to be your kids
32. All
the rules you need in life are in God’s word.
33. I
would give anything to spend one more hour with my daddy
34. Who
you know gets you in the door; hard work keeps you there.
35. Bad
deals rarely get better (Thank you, Steve Ballard)
36. Ice
Cream is good for the soul. Cookies
help, too.
37. When
you look at things differently, the things you look at change.
38. Live
in a state of gratitude and you will be grateful for everything that comes your
way.
39. The
most I ever had in my life were the times I had very little.
40. Everyone
needs someone they can count on. Someone
to listen, give advice, and give an opinion.
Someone who doesn’t judge you, understands you, knows who you are and
loves you anyway. Someone who makes you
laugh, wipes away tears, stands up for you, and always has your back. Someone who tells you that you are beautiful
when you don’t have on make-up. Someone
who is proud of you when you do good and still proud of you when you don’t. Someone who loves your mother even when she
is driving you nuts. Someone who hugs you for no reason. Someone who prays with you and for you. When
you find that person, hold on tight and never let go. This is the most
important thing I want my son to know.
