The year of the 30. That’s this year for me. Filled with as many memories and milestones as the anxiety of doom (turning 30)was supposed to be. This year has been a wake up call for me on so many levels, so I decided to share the lessons I have learned. Enjoy:
-My motto: I’m too old to not know better and too young to become hard headed over it.
-Affection is hard for me and causes weirdness when I try, but in the end has been worth it.
-I have finally let go of the false sense I had of high school. Reality set in about how it really was and my eyes finally dropped the rose colored lenses and started to see my “friends” and “enemies” for who they really were and in some cases are.
-Slowly working through the truth of who I am, who I was, and who (by the grace of God) I am going to be.
-Singleness only sucks when your friends can’t be content with you.
-There is absolutely a difference in life lived between a 30 year old and a 23-28 year old
-Making same aged friends and older, might just grow me up this year.
-Not making apologies for speaking truth about the maturity and age of my friends.
-Finances are killing me and I can admit that without shame….mostly because the rest of the world is pretty screwed with money too.
-Food stopped replacing my old vices when stressed, and instead my body decided to get sick. Bring on the tums!
-I care about my health more then I did when I was 25.
-I have liked talk radio for far too long and think that’s the reason I have been labeled and old soul.
-I have cared to long about being thought of and liked by people who haven’t given a crap in almost 10 years…time to stop beating myself up on that one.
-Seven years of healing looked nothing like I thought it would, and I wish I could implant the knowledge of the things I have learned in some of my old friend’s brains.
-I am finally becoming thankful for the friends I have and not in a desperate want to try and make more because I think I am missing out.
-I am more excited for the prospect of marriage, but still scared to death of the process before. (See first lesson learned)
-I am to old for video games and to young to completely give them up in social settings.
-My desire for advancement in my career is increasing.
-Going back to school is inevitable and I am over the fear of it and look forward to learning.
-My car was a bad decision to buy, but the lessons that have gone with it and its issues are priceless.
-When my brother tells me I am to old to drop it like it’s hot….I am then, most certainly, to old to drop it like it’s hot!
-I still have a bad fantasy to reality ratio. When that’s off there are way to many problems coming your way.
-I secretly sometimes still feel the invincibility of youth.
-I think I am doomed to be a permanent night owl.
-I want to love Jesus more than anyone else I love.
-I am not afraid to talk about Jesus anymore and more afraid I won’t know when to stop.
-I actually have thought a girl is sexy based on her faith and walk with Christ. Which is more than what I thought 7 or 8 years ago.
-I am picky and do not plan on stopping because friends or family think I will never get married. I am picky about all the right things.
-I am still scared of first dates, but love the idea of seconds, thirds, fourths and so on.
-I sometimes have a desire for my friends to get married before me, because I think they deserve it more.
-I am patient and will probably grow less patient the older I get.
-I have come to terms that my music choice is on a fine line of gay and trendy.
-My race has become more important the more I see what the world sees and why.
-I am over black jokes made by others, but still love to crack a couple to keep people uncomfortable and on their toes.
-I have accepted being slower than most to get things and have sped up my understanding of why I do that.
-I have accepted that I wear my emotions on my sleeve and decided to get longer sleeves and talk about it more.
-I need more than just one mentor and like the idea of a bullpen of wise men from all walks of life that I trust.
-My desire to physically fight more has been replaced with a desire to have more “one punch and done” conversations.
-You are more gay if you see something wrong with two grown men hugging in public…unless it’s for a long period of time and there is a lot of rubbing…and no one is injured.
-Christ died for our sins, and although I don’t beat you over the head with it, you should know that it affects every decision I make concerning you and our friendship.
-I am offended when I try not to offend someone and they tear down the gospel and Christ. It is disrespect, not your opinion, if respect doesn’t go both ways.
-Looking cool for young kids is about as stupid as when an 80 year old attempts it. 30 is the threshold of that I think.
-Thank you for letting me know that 31 is the real age it gets bad, now kindly shut up about it and let me go out with false hopes.
-I am ok with scaring people when I first meet them. The surprise when we become friends is far more entertaining in story telling later.
-I still believe the motto of: “Don’t under estimate teddy bears, because even teddy bears have claws when they need them.”
-Sometimes I watch you tube videos just so I can remember why I don’t try stupid things.
-I am over being intoxicated on any level. Nothing good happens after midnight and/or 4 beers.
-I am getting better at learning when to step in and tell friends things and when to step back and let them fall. I also am learning how to help them up after.
-The gym is not as scary anymore.
-I am over listening to friends complain about me having a summer off, when they can’t stand missing work for more than three days without feeling bored.
-Part time jobs have become the spice of life. I don’t like a lot of spice because I get heartburn…so I will be working on not having anymore spice as soon as possible.
-I am funnier to myself than I ever will be to you…so just go with it and know that I am amused.
-Sarcasm has never been my love language…if there was a hat language it would probably more on that side of things.
-I am not less witty because I am not sarcastic….I am more wise because I am not sarcastic.
-Love is difficult, hate is easy. Hate consumes, Love frees.
-You have no idea how to love if you have never been loved or received loved well.
-Weddings are great to be apart of and go to until you reach wedding #150…then it’s a little harder to stay positive…especially if you are single still.
-I have enough garters to start selling them to soon to be brides.
-Just because you can listen in on a conversation, doesn’t mean you should. It also doesn’t make you a part of the inner circle.
-Knowing everything is only impressive to you and you only. Most others around you are annoyed because you keep talking about it.
-Money and status are not so great if you try and think about what happens to it after you die. It is true that death is the great equalizer.
-Never assume anything about someone or their character unless you are willing to learn the truth for yourself. Be prepared to be wrong sometimes too.
-Everyone needs more counseling and less sounding boards. You need someone to talk back to you and tell you you’re stupid and/or wrong, and not someone who is going to agree with everything because they like you.
I think those are all the lessons I have got for now. I have learned much more and in all seriousness am blessed to have had such great friends and lived such an abundant life. I am thankful for my family, friends, and enemies for showing me what it means to grow up. God bless and Amen.
