42 things I have learned in 42 years…

It is hard for me to believe it but tomorrow…I am 42.  I don’t feel 42…unless of course…I move my body and then the aches and pains of growing older set in.  There is also the fact that my kids will be 19 and 21 this year…so ya, I guess I am 42.  All in all, life has been good to me.  That isn’t to say that I haven’t endured heart ache and pain, it just means that I try to focus on the good things.  The best thing about getting older is that I don’t take myself as seriously as I once did and I have grown to be comfortable in my own skin.  Here are the top 42 things that I have learned in 42 years:

1. Good things do come to an end
2. Bad days are only as bad as you make them…glass half full sweet peeps
3. Happiness comes from within…not from someone else
4. Who you are is far more important than what you have…possessions are just things
5. Taking the high road is hard but the view at the end is easier to live with
6. Exercise isn’t just about the calorie burn…it is about the mental reboot and fresh air
7. A lot of things are better left…unsaid
8. Having older kids is sad but the free time can be freeing
9. Divorce isn’t the end…it is the beginning
10. Being betrayed doesn’t say anything about you but it says everything about the other person
11. Honesty is the very best quality one can possess
12. Life happens whether you are a size 6 or 16…live it
13. Doing what you love for a living is totally awesome but it is still a job
14. Friendships come and go for reasons that only God understands
15. Forgiving someone is for you, not for the person you are forgiving
16. Saying, “I love you” isn’t as good as making someone feel loved
17. Cookies can make everything alright, for at least a few minutes {especially these Giant Peanut Butter Stuffed Cookies}
18. Having great parents is a true gift
19. 15 minutes of quiet time and devotions in the morning can improve an entire day
20. Inspiration can come from the craziest of places
21. Being a mother is my biggest joy and worry
22. People don’t have to share the same blood to be family
23. A good vacation is worth the expense
24. Paying for something in cash feels a whole lot different than swiping a card
25. Technology is a life-line and life-sucker
26. The best lessons are learned in the hardest moments
27. Seasons of life change but your values should remain the same
28. A good cry is sometimes the best medicine
29. Forcing things to happen will make things feel…forced
30. Investing in yourself is never a waste of time
31. Life altering and tragic events happen to even the best people
32. There is nothing that a girls night can’t fix
33. You get out of marriage what you are willing to put into it
34. Take opportunities given to you and run with them
35. Never pray for patience or God will you give you more chances to use it
36. Bras and shoes are overrated
37. Saying thank you never goes unnoticed
38. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion-let them have it
39. The gift of time is better than money
40. Moms should always trust their gut
41. Things aren’t always what they seem
42. Everyone deserves a second chance…but maybe not a third

Off we go into the weekend and although I have came down with a cold {womp…womp}, I am looking forward to time spent with family.  I also look forward to year 43 and plan to enjoy every moment!!  Happy Birthday to me!!