Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Random Learnings From 32 Years

Last weekend I celebrated the 32nd anniversary of my birth. It's been a good 32 years. I've got some fond memories:
- High School (maybe I blocked out the bad stuff)
- Being the first of my family to go back to Estonia.
- Playing baseball as a summer "job"
- Convincing a pretty girl to marry me
- Becoming a dad

And I've also learned a lot along the way. Here's 32 random things I've learned in my 32 years:
  1. Smiles are contagious
  2. Don't take yourself too seriously
  3. People will let you down and hurt you
  4. Everyone deserves a second chance
  5. Pizza Pops and HungryMan dinners are not part of a balanced diet
  6. Be nice. You catch more bees with honey than vinegar.
  7. Take risks when you're young. The older you get the harder it gets.
  8. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. All the hell I put my parents through as a kid has returned to me with a (sometimes) defiant and energetic 2-year old of my own.
  9. The older you get, the wiser your parents get. Weird how that works.
  10. Never trust a fart
  11. When you have the choice to assume the worst or believe the best, always chose believe the best
  12. Before you work hard to climb the ladder, make sure it's the right ladder.
  13. Bad things do happen to good people
  14. When in doubt, do the next 'right' thing
  15. Your job is not who you are
  16. Volunteer, serve and give back
  17. Have some friends outside your church bubble. They will help you stay grounded in reality.
  18. That handful of close church friends are worth more than their weight in gold.
  19. Children and spouses are the best mirrors
  20. There's no win in comparison
  21. It's never as bad as you think. It'll look better in the morning
  22. Ice cream will make you feel better
  23. Never stop reading and learning
  24. Some people are kept in your phone just so you know not to answer when they call
  25. The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second-best time is today. Don't wait, do it.
  26. Surround yourself with people smarter than you. That is the only way you will be challenged to grow.
  27. Don't forget to say "Thank You"
  28. Maintaining the status quo will kill your soul
  29. Find one person who will stand in your corner when no one else will. Then marry them.
  30. Standing with your feet in the ocean can fix any problem.
  31. Balanced people don't change the world
  32. You cannot out sin God's grace
Anything you'd add to the list?

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