Wow...I am finally the big 4-0. Who would have thought it?? I am that age!! Ya know...the age where moving around can hurt a little more. The age where you try and still do things like you were 20...so that you can feel young again...only after you do...it kinda hurts a little more, and for a little longer!! LOL When I was a kid...I always thought that 40 was old. I used to make fun of my parents when they hit 40. Now I know they are laughing at me!!! And so are all my relatives that I ever poked fun at for turning the 4-0!!!
Now that I am 40...what have I learned about myself in the past...that I can use for the future?? Hmmm...Let me think!!!! Well...below is a list of a few things I have learned!!! Enjoy the info!!
1) I have learned...that while it is hard trying to please everyone...you should not forget to focus on yourself and if you can't please yourself, then you have bigger things to worry about. There will be plenty of time to please the rest of the world...but you must do what makes you happy first!! For me...what makes me happy is to please my family!!! That's what matters most to me!!! I come a distant second…and the rest of the world is third!!!
2) I have learned...that there is always a right time and right place to be funny and goofy. When it's time to be serious...then be serious and stay focused. Someday...I will be better at that. As of now…I will continue to try…and try not to piss people off!!!
3) I have learned…set a goal…meet the goal. It can be as many as you want…just make sure they are goals that can be accomplished or “realistic” if you will. I mean…yeah who doesn’t wanna win the lottery…that is a goal…but is it realistic?? That is a chance of the draw for that one. It’s not something you can really control. But say…lose 20 pounds…that’s a “realistic” goal. I would like to lose 20 pounds…and I am struggling…but that doesn’t matter…I won’t quit. I won’t give up. I will accomplish this goal.
4) I have learned…to tell my wife “I love you” every day!!! I tell my kids “I love you” every day too!! It’s the little things that one should appreciate in certain aspects of life. I could be in a fight with Christy…or be mad at Jack or Jonny for something they did or didn’t do…but as long as I tell them I love them…they know that no matter what is going on…I am always there for them.
5) I have learned…to try and ignore other people’s opinions or ideas about who I am and how I am “supposed to act”. Nobody can tell me how to be in life. Well…let me rephrase that…people can express their opinion on how I should be doing things…but in the end…if it’s not something that is disrespectful to my wife and kids…then I am ok with who I am. I am a simple guy…with simple plans…simple goals…and pretty much a level-headed view on things. If you can’t accept me saying or doing certain things because you think it’s wrong, that’s your opinion most likely, and not mine. If I think it is right…I am gonna do it. Or if you are upset because you should be doing those things and I beat ya to it…TOO BAD!!! Step up to the plate and get it done yourself…then there won’t be an issue with being angry with me for doing it!! You live your life…I will live mine…and if my wife and kids are happy, which is the ultimate goal, then you have nothing to say about it!!
6) I have learned…That if you are not happy with your current situation with anything…then you should change it. Whether that means you start something totally new…or you change the conditions that surround you to make you happy…just do what is necessary to achieve a happy situation!!!
7) I have learned…that even though I have been out of high school for over 20 years…some things are still treated like high school never ended. As sad as that is sometimes…you can either suck it up and face it, totally ignore it, or just remove yourself from the situation!!!
8) I have learned…There is no such thing as the perfect parent. Everyone parents differently. While there are some extremely wrong ways to do parenting, there are a lot of right ways as well. No one really can tell you what to do…but you can ask for guidance, or advice, or opinions on situations. It is really up to you how you use the info to be a better parent. The most important thing…is use common sense. If you do that…you have already succeeded where so many have failed.
9) I have learned…to learn from my mistakes. Don’t keep ignoring the mistakes you made in life. They teach you lessons in everything!!! Be it parenting, communication, driving, exercising, cleaning, shopping, or whatever…learn from your past mistakes. It’s the big thing that’s gonna help you out in the future. I am trying every day to learn from my mistakes. Sometimes I don’t learn, and I repeat them, but that’s just how it goes sometimes! You just have to move on from them!!!
10) I have learned…that while we all have the right to freedom of speech…there are some things that are just better left unsaid. Now this is probably one of the hardest, if not THE HARDEST for me to do. I must learn that sometimes I just need to keep my big mouth shut!!! And other times…I should speak up when timing calls for it!!! I need to learn when is the right and wrong time. Thankfully…while I may get mad at her at first for pointing them out…I have my wonderful wife Christy to tell me!! She is my best friend…and I will admit that I would be lost without her!!! That’s right I admit it!!!
11) I have learned…and this is the last one…ADMIT IT WHEN YOU’RE WRONG!!! I could go into detail…but if you can be man enough or woman enough to admit you screwed up…and accept it…that’s big step will go a long way!!!
Well…that’s all I have for now…and that’s enough for me!!! Until next time!!! Have a great day!!!
