Lessons Learned This Week

Well, it has been an interesting week and even at my ripe old age, I can still learn life lessons. 

The things I've learned this week are that you can know someone, but not understand them.  You can know their clothes, their favorite foods, their humor, etc., but still not understand their deepest responses or actions or why.  You can know where they were born, where they live, but still not know where they are coming from (so to speak).  There is a difference between knowing someone and understanding them.

I've also learned that sometimes we just have to let go of people.  We can't change people into what we think they should be (even if we are right -haha).  We just need to let them be themselves, and if they have regrets at the end, well that is their choice and right to have.  For example, say we think they should be outside enjoying the sunshine and all they want is to sit in the house and play video games (I'm talking an adult here not children), then just let them be - still invite them, but if they don't go then it is their choice and each person's decision on how to spend their time....  Which leads me to another lesson - that what some people see as work others see as a hobby.  I tend to lump all money-related/work items together as work, but I have learned that others see it differently.  What may be work to me, is not to someone else - go figure.

My last lesson is one I had known but have had a reminder of and that is how short life is.  I have known of five people who have passed away (including one family member just last week) so far in 2011 and it is only June!  So life, really is too short and we really don't know when we go to bed if tomorrow is our last day.  We don't know if this week is our last week, or if this is our last year.  For me, that is why it is important to try to focus on what is important in life and that is something each of us have to decide for ourselves I suppose. 

So this is what 41 feels like...

I am on my third day of 41 and so far it really doesn't feel that much different than 40. ;)  I do vividly remember turning 40 last year, and although 40 is a milestone (good or bad), I didn't really have the time to dwell on it.  I was in my third trimester and down to my last month of school.  I had finals to finish and a nursery/baby to finish getting ready.  To top it all off, I was so sick on the actual day with a cold/virus thing and I felt miserable.  I laid on the couch most of the afternoon and Case brought home Baker's drive-thru for dinner (I had wanted to go out but didn't feel like it). 

I can't believe a year has passed since then - it really has flown.  V will be a year-old next month.  I physically feel a little older I guess - more aches and pains and I know I look older (darn wrinkles), but inside I still feel in my 30's.  Not my 20's - don't really miss those all that much - but 30's that's a good place to be in my head even if no where else, and my driver's license says a different number. 

So no more milestones for another 9 years I imagine.  Maybe I will feel different at 45 - but at this point I'm not really counting years until I get to the next decade of 50.  It gives me 10 years to start saving for my facelift. ;)