I'm old.
1. I don't know everything. That's why God invented Google. And sons.
2. Of the four seasons, winter is the longest.
3. Sometimes things end.
4. And most times there are beginnings.
5. Pickleball is a cult.
6. Being generous is sexy.
7. Saying "I love you" to your people gets you halfway there. You gotta do something too.
8. Use calendars. I can't stress this enough.
9. Long toe nails are gross.
10. Be forever curious.
11. Practice.
12. Make a new friend.
13. If you're a crappy cook, offer to drive, bring fresh flowers or do the dishes.
14. Have conversations; don't just talk.
15. Let gratitude ooze from your pores.
16. Love the space you live in.
17. Bingo is fun.
18. Accept invitations that make your armpits tingle.
19. Celebrate all the things. First day of Spring. National Donut Day. Random anniversaries. First grey hair. First solo walk without a cane after hip replacement surgery.
20. Johnny Jump Ups are the happiest of flowers.
21. Peonies are the most elegant.
22. A good antidote to the current American political situation is binge watching old episodes of West Wing.
23. Make peace with God. I mean, you can believe there is one, or not. Up to you. But it's a really lovely world-view to believe we are here because of love.
24. Congratulate yourself with a little 'ta dahhh' when you do something for the first time. Keep on finding things to do for the first time.
25. It's OK to have a negative opinion regarding cilantro. Don't be bullied into feeling otherwise.
26. Toxic environments will eventually make you sick.
27. Recovering from 'burn out' takes longer than you'd think.
28. You are blessed indeed if someone on your friend list has a pick up truck.
29. Road construction is a pain in the ass.
30. Ass is not a swear word.
31. Know your strengths. Use them for good.
32. Put aside at least 10% of your earnings each month for your retirement. DO NOT DEPEND ON CPP or OAS or your kids to keep you in avocados and bath salts when you're 90.
33. Put out a hummingbird feeder. You may never doom scroll again.
34. Telling your truth isn't always possible or necessary or kind.
35. Join a book club. Start a book club. Read.
36. Vacations planned around concerts or F1 races are the new Disneyland trips.
37. Forgive as quickly as possible.
38. Sometimes you have to forgive the same person for the same thing a million times. Do it. Even if they don't say sorry.
39. Frogs and crickets provide the best evening soundtrack to summer. (Apparently they taste good, deep friend and covered in chocolate?)
40. Hang on to traditions for 100 years or as long as your family lets you.
41. You will never regret having a southern facing back yard.
42. Pray. About everything. All the time. (If you're not familiar; start with "Thanks." "I'm sorry." "Wow." "Help.")
43. Anticipate the goodness of strangers.
44. Watch documentaries. Then find a way to drop your new knowledge into a conversation.
45. British accents are the absolute bollocks. I'll die on that chuffin hill.
46. The 'good ol days' we'll talk about in the future are right now. Be proactive in makin 'em good.
47. Rest is an act of self-love. Don't glorify exhaustion. Sabbathing is a thing.
48. Make your house a museum of things you love.
49. Being surrounded by the right circle of friends is the biggest life upgrade.
50. The key to happiness is to lower your expectations. Nope, lower. Lower than that even.
51. Don't apologize for crying. It's the healthiest way for your body to release toxins and tension.
52. Love is a choice. It's a decision you make with your brain.
53. Your dryer can be a cupboard for clean clothes. Your dishwasher can be a drawer for clean dishes.
54. Nothing will improve your life more than proximity to the people you love.
55. Fairy, twinkle and patio lights are magical.
56. There is something sacred and beautiful listening to omas and opas belt out old hymns in glorious four part harmony.
57. Comparison is the thief of joy. Hard stop.
58. Use beauty and creativity as weapons to wage war against negative headlines and depressing news.
59. Having a BCAA membership is an investment in peace of mind.
60. God still rolls away stones.
61. Your body was never designed to last forever. Bits will break, fall off, fall out, change colour, change texture, and become unnecessary.
62. If you're going to overthink, think about things that are honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent and worthy of praise.
63. If you're unsure, ask, "Is this a problem you want my help to solve? Or should I listen and give you a hug?"
64. Actively increase the surface area for joy to find you. Go outside, sit in a coffee shop, put together a team to play pub trivia, travel to a neighbouring town, wander through an art gallery or museum, meet a friend for a picnic, visit a different church, share a batch of banana bread with a neighbour, be inquisitive, go on a side quest, catch Pokemon, join a group or a club or a gang.
65. Pray. Pray for your kids, your parents, your sibs, your nieces and nephews, your friends, your friends' kids, your kids' friends, the leaders in your governments, your neighbours, the author of that book you just read, the producer who created the show you just binge-d, your doctor, your dentist, the server at White Spot, the guy who did the thing, the artist who sings the song, the actor who acts, the mom who's grieving, the eye guy who injects medicine into your retina, the people who delay traffic because they're widening the highway ...
And a bonus two because I'm generous like that:
66. Your legacy is not what they say about you, but how they live because they knew you. Consider your eulogy, not just your resume.
67. Being their mom is all that and a bag of chips.
Thanks for dropping by.
Water your plants and your soul. Then go feel your boobs.
xo
"In this great orchestra we call life, you have been given a unique instrument and a distinctive song. You owe it to the conductor (and the rest of us in the band with you) to play them both sublimely."
No comments:
Post a Comment