41 lessons

Today is my 41st birthday. It sort of snuck up on me- I knew it was coming, but didn't really think about it until the last few days. This morning my daughters gave me beautiful flowers and a beautiful card, and it was lovely. Birthdays really aren't a big deal to me, and never have been. I guess as I get older they will become even less so!
My post today is a list of things I have learned in my 41 years. 41 things for 41 years!

1.  Cats make good pets. They are cuddly and soft and purr. But you can go away for the weekend and leave them to their own devices.
2.  Children are the best reason in the world to be a better person.
3.  Curling up with a good book is absolutely one of my favorite things to do. And I never get to do enough of it.
4.  Your happiness is your own to create. No one elses.
5.  Take responsibility for your own faults.
6.  Sometimes you need to watch a sad movie and have a good, sobbing cry. When no one is around.
7.  Your true friends are sisters of your heart. Blood relation doesn't make you family, love does.
8.  Life is a precious priviledge.
9.  Grief and mourning don't necessarily only come when someone dies.
10.  Loving your job is the only way to stand having to work for a living.
11.  Sinking your toes into warm sand and watching waves crash is the ultimate anti-depressant.
12.  Its possible to love more than one person.
13.  The sun shining outside makes me shine inside.
14.  I want a puppy. I know they are impractical, and messy, and so much work, but I have dreams about puppy kisses and cuddles. Someday soon.
15.  Everyone pisses you off sometimes. No matter who they are.
16.  There are some people in the world who do not have good, or light in them, no matter how hard you look.
17.  Having to work out and watch what I eat all the time now sucks ass.
18.  Shannon and I have the world all figured out. Too bad we aren't running the show.
19.  Having the summer off rocks...and is worth the sacrifice.
20.  Truth is simple. Don't lie.
21.  I can forgive almost anything of anyone. But I never forget. And a little part of how I feel about you dies when you do something that needs forgiveness.
22.  I don't believe in marriage.
23.  I still don't know what I believe as far as "god" or spirituality goes.
24.  I still have a tiny voice inside me that sometimes tells me I'm not good enough to try whatever it is that I am thinking about trying.
25.  My children truly are my heart outside my body. I had no concept of what real love was until I had them.
26.  I'm a realist. I used to be a romantic, but I got over it.
27.  I think the "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy is kinda poorly written and not nearly as interesting as I thought it was gonna be. And yet....I'm still reading.
28.  I love chai tea. And ceasars.
29.  People let you down, even if not intentionally. Rely only on yourself.
30.  Death comes for us all. Smart, brilliant, funny, kind, loving, wonderful. Doesn't matter. It still comes.
31.  I don't regret any choices I have made. Even the bad ones.
32.  Housework never ends. Ever.
33. Nothing is quite as wonderful as a snuggly, sleeping child in my arms.
34.  I need to start thinking about retirement.
35.  Change is hard. But usually good.
36.  Acting goofy with my kids is fun. And liberating.
37.  Once you have kids, time seems to be on fast forward.
38.   Ignoring the facts doesn't change them.
39.  Trust your intuition. Mine doesn't lead me astray.
40.  Being true to yourself sometimes means being selfish. But we only get one shot at this, so be true.
41.  I am lucky. To have the love, family, friends, life I have.