What a great picture!! It doesn't seem that long ago. When I was in my 30's I said I had no regrets. Then in my 50's I had so many....and now, I just say it is what it is, it was what it was. Because I know I can't change anything. I can't turn back time. However, IF I were able to give my young self some advice it would be this:
Love well....Study ways you can love more.
Love yourself or you won't be able to love anyone else.
ALWAYS MOVE TOWARDS LOVE!
Say kind things.
Brainwash yourself. No, I mean it. Wash your brain of negative thinking. It's easy to be negative, be positive no matter how hard you have work at it.
BE AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN!! Make your own money, have a career...something you love. Work at it all the time and be a strong example for your daughter, for your son. Show them women don't depend on men.
Find a good counselor and go to her. A lot. Wheher you think you need to or not.
Brush your dog's teeth, respect your animals, they are NOT here to serve you; although they give and love unconditionally.
Don't eat animals.
Drink wine.
Laugh more and don't make apologies for who you are, for not wanting to spend words on trival things that don't matter.
It's okay to care too much, don't listen to people who say "You're too sensitive" and ALWAYS have boundaries.
Don't be religious but be spiriutal.
Let your children know that God loves them unconditionally and DO NOT SPANK THEM. If someone tells you to, run far away from those people.
Spend more time with your parents. Ask them about their lives before you. Hug them and tell them you love them.
Keep praying...for the rest of your life. Even though your prayers will change, keep praying. Know God is a mystery and you don't always have the answers. Know that God is love.
Know that the fear of God is not being afraid of things or of being "bad", but that it is a mighty respect for a power greater than you; a mystery greater than you can comprehend. But ALWAYS know God is love.
Know that the will of God is to love and be loved...that simple....but not so easy.
LOVE YOURSELF!!!! WALK AWAY WHEN IT'S TIME!!!
Let your children go. Give them all that you can to help them make it through this life REMEMBER! THEY DIDN'T ASK TO BE HERE. YOU WANTED TO CREATE A CHILD. You could have adopted, there are plenty of children already here.
Always be honest...as best you can. Especially with yourself. Expectations breed disapointment and rules and regulations breed rebellion. Not always, but just keep that in mind.
Lastly, growing old gracefully doesn't mean loving your wrinkles. Love them if you do, but if you don't, that's okay. Do something about it. Keep fit, lift weights, eat right, get botox, take care of your teeth, and read. Grow spiritually because soon, you will only be spirit.
It's a long list, I know. But I wish someone had told me those things when I was a young thing. I will tell my grand-kids for sure.
So, it's a beautiful day, I"m chillin' alone and I like it that way. My husband and I will go to one of my favorite vegan resturaunts tonight and then to a party celebrating my sweet Riley's 21st. (She is family). Life is good, but way too short.
Thank you Shauna for the picture. Made me nostalgic and gave me inspiration to bring out the thoughts and feelings of my heart.
Of course I'll end with a Dave song. (I would love to see him before I get too old to care.)
These are the lyrics...but I hope you listen to the melody, it's like the color in a painting...
Bring that beat back to me again
Take me back, take me back, can't catch me, can't catch me
Take me back, take me back, can't catch me, can't catch me
Ride my bike down that old dirt hill
First time without my trainin' wheels
First time I kissed you I lost my legs (can't catch me)
Bring that beat back to me again
First time without my trainin' wheels
First time I kissed you I lost my legs (can't catch me)
Bring that beat back to me again
Screamin', shoutin', louder innocence
Days when all we did would never end
Days when all we did would never end
Oh when it gets hard
