Look So Lovely: Lessons Learned

With August being my ~~favorite~~ birthday month (and this being my birthday week) I thought it would be fun to take this post and reflect on my 31 years. (yikes!) I have always looked at my birthday as sort of my own New Year's and instead of making resolutions in January, I like to start fresh on my birthday. A new year with new intentions for an even better year.

This year isn't a huge milestone birthday but it is the first official one of my thirties. These lessons learned are hardly new ones, but here are my 31 for 31:

1. Laugh as much as you can and as often as you can. A hearty laugh can do so much for the soul.

2. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

3. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

4. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

5. The beauty of life is that nothing lasts forever. The good as well as the bad has a timeline.

6. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

7. There are few joys that equal a good book, a good walk, a good hug, or a good friend. All are free.

8. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

9. Friends are so important in your life. Make the effort stay in touch. They become your family and will help you through all of lifes ups and downs.

10. Like Adele ~~says~~ sings, "sometimes it lasts in love and sometimes it hurts instead."

11. Have no regrets. It is what it is. Stop with the what-ifs.

12. Try and stop over thinking. Over-analyzing. Over-assuming. I know this can be a hard concept, but some things are better left as they are, can't waste anymore time trying to make sense of it.

13. Let go of what you think people think of you. Chances are they really don't care too much. And really, it's none of your business.

14. Life is short, eat dessert first. Even better, enjoy your dessert with some champagne.

15. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

16. Nothing changes if nothing changes. This is one of my favorite mantras and I say it to myself quite often.

17. Always smile. People gravitate to smiling people.

18. Motivation comes in short bursts. Act while it’s hot.

19. Stop thinking about what you need to accomplish and and look around to what you have and what you've done. If you keep looking to what you have to do, your list will never end.

20. Thank your mom and dad. And often. (Thanks and love ya, M & D!)

21. Tears and kindness are not a sign of weakness, contrary to what many believe. It takes a stronger person to show real emotion.

22. Be creative.

23. Try and start each day with a grateful heart.

24. Your attitude is your choice. Choose wisely.

25. Have a sense of humor. Life is way to short not to enjoy it.

26. Ask lots of questions. It's far better to be a curious person than one that could care less about what is around them.

27. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Albert Einstein had this one right. If you feel in a rut with what your outcomes are, switch it up.

28. Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold.

29. Enjoy the simple things in life, the things that don't cost you any money. Conversations with friends, sitting in the sun taking in a beautiful view, strolling through a farmers' market, road trips.

30. Love yourself first.

31. The best is yet to come. I like to think that our best days are still ahead of us. And if my days get even better than how they have been for the last 31 years, I simply cannot wait for the next 31.

And maybe just one more for good luck...