Thursday

Lesson Learned

My birthday is this week. I'm feeling way better about it than I have the last two birthdays. This is true mostly because I feel way better about myself than I have -- well, for years, I guess. (Don't ever move to a new town, flood, get sued, watch a family member die, then glue your marriage back together in a few successive years -- it's murder on your body and your psyche). Chris Campbell recently wrote that he was slightly jealous of the ACU freshman moving in. Not me, man. I am so much more comfortable in my own skin (albeit quite a bit looser and wobbly skin) than I was then.

There's lots I've learned in the last . . . lots of years since entering college.


  • I really don't have to prove myself to anyone. My kids haven't quite bought into this, but I have and that's all that matters!
  • Procrastined tasks don't get any more pleasant with time.
  • Blue jeans do not fit actual humans. Okay, they may fit men -- because I haven't had this conversation with any men -- but of my friends that range in size from size 2 to size 22 I haven't found any of them that can purchase a pair of jeans off the rack that fits. If you see anyone wearing jeans that look like they were made for that person -- they probably were.
  • A person's willingness to perform any volunteer activity is generally directly disproportionate to that person's ability to perform said volunteer activity.
  • People are most defensive when they feel their pride/ego/dignity is on the line. Give them the opportunity to hang on to that, and they'll pretty much work with you.
  • It actually IS possible to have too many refrigerator magnets.
  • We try to teach our children not to think the world revolves around them -- but we never really learn that lesson, either.
  • If you're at the back of the store and realize you should have gotten a cart, DO NOT grab one that is empty just hanging around. It was abandoned for a reason. It is posessed by demons. Make the trip to the front of the store to get a "fresh" one (that is only mildly posessed by demons).
  • THINK VERY CAREFULLY before actually writing anything down. I learned this one this week.

I'm sure there is much more that I have learned but my new job seems to keep my brain cells from working on a regular basis -- much like the fancy-schmancy computer system they have there! I do think that "older" frequently goes with "wiser" for a reason. For the moment, I'm perfectly happy being both!

3 comments:

Tammy M. said...

I agree! Wouldn't go back to those college days for anything. It is great feeling comfortable in your own shoes, and not feel like you have anything to prove, you couldn't pay me enough to go back to that early twenties physique but take the brain (or the heart) that came with it. Always love to read your words.

Roxanne said...

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday, dear Sarah. . .Happy birthday to you (tomorrow). Enjoy the Gaithers and Hallal--your dad sounds VERY excited. :)

Your birthday card was sacrificed to Texas Children's hospital, because I had exactly ONE stamp left, and their demands for PAYMENT IN FULL are much more insistent than my demands on myself to get you a b-day card on time. Even though I actually PURCHASED it two months ago so I would be prepared! :) So much for that.

FlyLady would be proud--too many fridge magnets, INDEED!!! That one made me laugh.

Saggier, baggier skin is like those elusive jeans--much more comfortable than the newer, tighter, not-quite-broken-in-yet version. Of course, I've thought you filled your skin quite well over the three decades I've known you--but you already know that too. :)

One of the things I don't miss from younger days. . .hot rollers!

Happy, happy, happy birthday, Sarah.

I love you.

R--

Anonymous said...

Well, happy birthday! And I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree that going back in time is not for me either. Maybe it has something to do with the struggles of the past, but I am completely content to move on and see what God has in store for my future. The Jefferson's said it best..."I'm Movin' on up!"

Oh, and I won't tell you my jean size, but I can't buy a great pair off the rack either!