Just kidding. I’ve gotten much more than a keychain (not that I could ever find one with my name on it but we’ll discuss that later) I turned 30 last week. 10,950 days old. Its pretty weird. Not because I’m looking at tiny wrinkles beginning to form on my face or because I found three grey hairs…ok fine those things are happening too…but mainly it’s weird because I guess in my head I’ve always viewed 30 as being an official adult. I’ve always been the baby in the family and among my friends so in a lot of ways I still feel like a teenager. Maybe its because my life is different than what I thought it’d be at 30. I thought I’d have kids right now so that’s been stinging a bit more than usual this week. Being a mom was always what I wanted to do and to see that it’s really not going to happen is hard. But overall I’m happy and truly believe that age is just a number. (Talk to me again when I turn 40 haha) So I decided for today I’d (try to briefly) write 30 things I feel I’ve learned in this life of mine and/or things I would tell my younger self. So here goes nothin’.
1. You can’t worry so much about what other people think. Just be yourself, the people who love you will love you no matter what and the people who don’t, well they’re not worth it anyway. I’m still working on this one, hence it being #1.
2. My name is cool and I’m glad I didn’t change it to Melissa or Kristen like I promised I would do as a kid. Even if I couldn’t ever find a souvenir keychain with my name on it. Laura, Loren, even Laurie but hardly ever a Lori. Still wouldn’t mind being Claudia though, that was always my pretend name when we played house. Maybe due to my love for the Babysitter’s Club?
3. Love will come to you when you least expect it. I wasn’t looking for the Butcher but I knew after two weeks I was going to marry him. We are as perfectly matched as two imperfect human beings can be and I love him with all that I have.
4. You WILL turn into your mother. But in my case, it’s not such a bad thing, I think she’s pretty cool. Oh, and she really was right about almost everything. But don’t tell her.
5. The voices in the drama at the convention are pre-recorded. Seriously, it took me a few years to figure that one out.
6. Math is hard and most of what I learned in school I’ve never ever ever used. Not that I’d remember it anyway. If you put a long division problem in front of me I’d laugh in your face.
7. Don’t whine, people don’t care for it.
8. Check your pockets before you put your pants in the hamper. The red lipstick vs. jeans debacle of 1994 still haunts me every time I do laundry.
9. Speaking of laundry, don’t forget to empty the dryer vent, the house could burn down. I’ll never forget, mainly because my dad literally had a neon sign reminding us of this fact hung above the dryer.
10. In your car where the gas gauge is there’s a little arrow next to the picture of the gas tank. This tells you what side of the car the tank is on. Mind blowing.
11. Be kind. Not only will it get you nominated “friendliest” in your high school yearbook but it’s just the right thing to do.
12. When you try to save people, sometimes they just end up bringing you down with them.
13. I wish I was as skinny as I was when I thought I was fat. True story, it’s not just something funny on pinterest.
14. Firm handshakes are important.
15. Read. Read Little Women and cry when Beth dies (spoiler alert), laugh with Ramona Quinby and Amelia Badelia, and go on adventures with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
16. If you were daddy’s little girl then marry someone just like him and he’ll treat you like a princess.
17. Beets were gross then, and they’re still gross now.
18. Sometimes the thing you want most in life isn’t what you get. But make the best of it and know that soon all your desires will be satisfied.
19. Value old friendships. There’s nothing like talking to someone who just knows your story and there’s no explanation needed. But know that new friends can become old friends too if you let your guard down. Those girl scouts don’t just make delicious cookies, they also say, “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.’
20. Writing is therapeutic and reading your old diaries is both funny and extremely embarrassing.
21. Try and memorize more scriptures than movie quotes. Still working on this one…
22. Food is love. Be hospitable and it will bring you joy.
23. Be careful about playful teasing and sarcasm. Sometimes it’s not as funny as you may think and it can hurt people’s feelings. And if you can dish it out, you better be able to take it.
24. ALWAYS keep a pocket knife in your purse, you have no idea how often it will come in handy. Thanks dad.
25. Don’t touch curly hair when it’s wet, just don’t.
26. Just say “no”. Not like in the D.A.R.E. program at school (obviously that’s important too) but know your limitations. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should and sometimes people will take advantage of your talent and/or kindness.
27. Grammar and spelling are important. If you don’t know the difference between “to” and “too’, then people will think you’re stupid. I’m sorry but its true.
28. Just because you have an opinion doesn’t mean people want to hear it. However, you are entitled to have one and tactfully express it, but don’t force it upon others.
29. Treat others how you want to be treated. Just because it’s not the way you would do or feel doesn’t make it wrong, it just makes it different. Respect that and be yielding to others, especially your loved ones.
30. Life is full of really crappy stuff but it also has a lot of great stuff too. Focus on the great stuff and find something to laugh about every single day.
beauty & the butcher 