All week long I've been hearing Deana Carter singing in my head, "I still remember when 30 was old..." I was 15 when "Strawberry Wine" came out, and 30 did seem so old at that point in time. And now, here I am turning 35 today...but I'm far from old, right? Right?!!?
Hands down, my 30s have been the best decade of my life thus far. It's the new 21...with a little cash to spend! I got married, I became a mom, I've got a great job, a fabulous family and incredible friends. I really have no complaints...except that time is flying by faster than I ever imagined was possible. Don't get me wrong, there are bumps in the road and challenging days {weeks!}, but it just recently hit me that I am happy...truly and genuinely happy. I'm in a very good place, and I am so incredibly grateful for this crazy, chaotic life I lead.
Today, as I begin my 36th trip around the sun {I had to seriously think about that for a minute...it's my 35th birthday, so that means I'm beginning my 36th year...#deepthoughts}, I thought I'd share with you some things I've learned, observed or experienced along the way...
- Birthdays
are a blessing. Getting older is part of life’s natural progression…and it’s
obviously better than the alternative. Celebrate big or celebrate small…but no
matter what, you must eat cake on your birthday!
- Live within your means. Better yet, live below your means. Saving money is crucial! Maintain a savings account {that is fairly liquid} at a level sufficient to cover at least six months of general living expenses…just in case!
- Use your head as more than a hat rack. Think for yourself…outside of the box. Don’t just go along with the crowd. Think before you speak or react.
- You’ve
got to be a friend to have a friend. This goes back to the good
‘ole Golden Rule…
- Don’t
accept a counteroffer from an employer after you’ve resigned to take another
job. A recruiter shared this article with me when I was faced with
this decision, and it really stuck with me. Sure, it’s incredibly flattering to
receive an offer for a promotion or raise if you’ll stay at the current job,
but why weren’t you worth that extra money and more prestigious title before you quit? Plus, the reasons you
had for wanting to leave the original job in the first place will still exist.
- There’s
no such thing as a free lunch. Pulling out my economics
background for this one {I did learn
something in college!}. Simply put: you can’t get something for nothing. Digging
a little deeper into it: when faced with a decision, you must carefully
consider what you’re giving up by choosing one option over the other.
- YouTube
is a form of continuing education. Tutorials and how-to
videos on anything and everything you could ever want to learn are available on
YouTube. Don’t ever stop learning!
- Dress for
success. Dress for the position you want, not the position you have. In
the professional world, always err on the conservative side. When you look your
best, you feel your best and, thus, produce the best results.
- On the same note, quality shoes are worth the extra money.
Life is too short for painful shoes, no matter how cute they may be.
- Lipstick
can change your entire look. Even if you aren’t wearing
any other makeup, a little lipstick {or
gloss} will make you look {and feel}
pulled together. Plus, bright/bold
lipsticks will instantly make your teeth look whiter.
- Hope for
the best, but plan for the worst. No one wants to think
about death or disability, but planning for unexpected tragedies is especially
imperative if you have children. Buy life insurance. Write a will that
designates legal guardians for your children. This is an incredibly sensitive
topic and a difficult decision to make…but if you don’t do it, it will be left
up to the state. It’s worth the money to consult with an estate planning
attorney to aid with this process. Don’t
put it off!
- There are
three sides to every story: your
side, the other person’s side and the unbiased truth. It’s all about
perspective.
- Spend as
much time as possible with your grandparents…and truly listen when
they’re talking to you. No amount of money can buy the knowledge they’ll share
with you in a simple conversation.
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| Landon & me with Grandma & Granddad, May 2016 |
- A wedding
planner is worth their weight in gold. Not only will they get you through the
planning process {and save you significant
money due to the relationships they’ve built with vendors}, but you’ll also
be able to enjoy your entire wedding day without worrying about a thing.
- Proofread...and then proofread again! Get it right when you write. Incorrect
spelling and/or typos on your resume/cover letter/any related documents will
most likely send your application straight to File 13 {i.e. the trashcan!}.
- The cost
of alcohol is inversely correlated with the severity of the headache you’ll
have the next morning. The cheaper the booze,
the worse the hangover. Buy the good stuff!
- Your
toughest critics are often also your biggest fans. These
are the people who see potential in you that you may not even see yourself.
They push you hard because they believe in you and refuse to allow you to
settle for less than you deserve. Stay close to these people and thank them for
helping you achieve success.
- The Five Love Languages book is legit. Figure out your own love
language as well as your partner’s. They may be different {most likely will be}, but that’s ok. Learn to speak your partner’s
love language…and when you start to struggle with it, read the book again.
- Don’t
underestimate the power of hand-written notes. Dropping
a hand-written note in the mail is a small gesture that makes a BIG impact.
- “Good
Enough” doesn’t cut it. You’ll never get ahead by just getting by.
You’ve got to go above and beyond what is expected of you to get noticed.
- Pets are
part of the family. The pure excitement they show when they see you and the
unconditional love of a pet is priceless.
- Be on
time. Better yet, show up early! It’s disrespectful of others’ time
when you’re late.
- Don’t ever
forget where you came from. You wouldn’t be who you are today if it weren’t
for your background and upbringing. Show gratitude to everyone who helped you
along the way, most importantly, your parents.
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"Back where I come from...I'm proud as anyone..."
the Gyp Hills of Barber County, Kansas |
- Pay your
dues. Nobody starts at the top. You’ve got to work to get there. Hard
work will pay off in the long run. The harder you work, the luckier you get.
- College
is as much about growing up as it is the actual education. It’s the
first time you’re out on your own, fending for yourself, fully responsible for
your own decisions and actions. How you deal with this newfound freedom will likely evolve throughout your college experience. Somewhere along the way you'll figure out how to manage your time {balance your social and academic schedules} and money. In fact, you may even think you're ready for "the real world" by the time you graduate. Turns out, "the real world" is a little different than college life.
- At some point during the
college years, you’ll probably realize your
parents were always right. They had your best interest at heart in all of
the rules and restrictions they set. When you finally accept that your parents
are the smartest people you know, tell them! This will be a big turning point
in that relationship.
- Maintain your faith. Keep God at the center of your life. Continuously
pray. It’s easy to turn to God in times of distress, but don’t forget
to thank Him for all of your blessings as well.
- Make
yourself indispensable. Whatever you’re doing, do it well…better than
anyone else. Make sure you’re adding value. Put yourself in a position so that
you can’t be easily replaced.
- You’re
responsible for your own happiness. The basis of true
happiness comes from within. Once you reach a point where you’re happy with
your life on your own, you’ll be surprised how quickly other things fall into
place.
- Own up to
your mistakes, and sincerely apologize when it’s necessary. "Sincerely" is the key
word. Mean what you say, and let it be obvious that it comes from the heart.
- Revel in
your success for a moment…and then do more! Don’t stop trying to
better yourself just because you’ve accomplished one goal. Dream big. Set the
next goal and keep learning and improving.
- Surround yourself
with the right people. It's hard to soar with the eagles when you’re
surrounded by turkeys.
- The
bigger the risk, the greater the reward. Don’t be afraid to take
chances. On the other hand, fully assess the risk and make sure you’re
comfortable with the possibility of losing what you have invested {time, money, emotions}.
- You’ll
never be 100% “ready” to have kids. If you know you want to
have a child, but you’re “waiting for the right time” {when you have enough money, when you’re far enough along in your
career, when you’re grown up/responsible enough}, I guarantee that time
will never arrive. I can also promise that once that tiny babe is in your arms,
you’ll be ready to do whatever it takes to give that child the very best life
you possibly can.
- Take lots
of photos…and make sure you’re IN some of them. One day,
all your children will have is pictures…and they won’t care how your hair
looked or if you were wearing makeup…they’ll just want to see you!
Cheers to 35!
What are some life lessons you've learned along the way?
