Lessons from a Half Century

I turned 50 last spring, and have spent most of this year pondering what I’ve actually managed to learn in my time on this planet. My age and relative lack of wisdom as a younger person are the only things that I can use to justify why my wisdom has much value compared to the next person. That, and the fact that I decided to write mine down for your benefit, dear reader.

Here are some of my pearls of wisdom:

1. People can try to talk down to you but you don’t have to absorb that message, even if they are your boss, your parent, or your spouse. Process the content and ignore the tone. Decide if the content is worth responding to.
2. It’s almost never personal.
3. Just because i’m angry, sad, or disappointed, doesn’t mean anyone is to blame, including me. Usually bad things are just random or misunderstandings.
4. I’m an adult now and I can start calling myself a woman and not a girl. About time, no?
5. If somebody says something that sounds offensive or rude, ask questions in a polite neutral tone and find out what they really meant. It’s usually something other than how you took it, and if they really meant it you’ve got time to think about how to respond.
6. Be yourself and be authentic. People respond better to the real you than the pretend, for-show version of you.
7. You’re as young now as you ever will be again so enjoy it now, before you get older and lose that muscle tone, gain weight or wrinkles…