#002: 59 Trips Around the Sun

I turned 59 today.  There’s no easy way to say that.  I’m not exactly depressed about it or anything.  But if I was comparing my life to a 24 hour day, I would say that 59 is probably late afternoon- a lot of the day is behind me, but still plenty of the day left.

Here’s the thing, though; By 59 we’ve lived A LOT. Hopefully we’ve also learned a lot. Here are a few of my lessons learned:

• Make your bed as soon as you get up in the morning- if you accomplish nothing else during the day, there’s always that.

• When you feel most financially strapped is the best time to be generous.

• Never drink gin.

• Wash your face every night before bed.

• Don’t wash your hair more than twice a week

• Never watch interviews of your favorite actors- chances are you won't enjoy their movies ever again.

• People born after 1990 prefer texting and never listen to voicemail.

• Downton Abbey and The Wire are two series worth watching more than once.

• Don’t be discouraged by failure.

• Bears are everywhere.

• The relationships worth having take work. Do the work.

• You can’t change the past, but you can make up for it with the future.

• Don’t wish away time waiting for Friday. Wishing life away is no way to live.

• If something isn’t working, change it.

• Happy people don’t tear others down.

• Be a good person.

• Always buy good shoes. They’re worth the money.

• Buy yourself fresh flowers every week.

It may not always seem like it, but the years really do fly by.  So take this advice from Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

And make your next trip around the sun a great one.