[Image] Big thanks to Yotam.Hadarr
It's been almost 2 weeks since I turned 40. What kind of wisdom have I learned within this time? Well, come closer my young whippersnappers.....

One of the most important things that I have learned is to be yourself and be happy with that person. That is, unless you are a jerk. Which if that is the case, stop reading this blog and go get some help to stop being a jerk and go yell at your parents for raising such a jerky kid. If you are not a jerk, then remember to love yourself and know that you are the best in this world. There is nothing wrong with thinking that you are the coolest kid in school. Just don't get a big head - then you become a jerk (see comments above).

Which leads me to the second thing I've learned. Stop saying WHEN. Oh you know what I am talking about. I'll be happy WHEN I lose 10 pounds - no you won't. You will find something else wrong and start worrying about that body part. Or how about-I'll be happy WHEN I have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Really? How about loving yourself right now and being happy that you can eat chocolate chip cookie dough in bed, fart and not blame it on the dog and not have to explain your Pez candy dispenser obsession to someone. STOP SAYING WHEN and live RIGHT NOW!

Another thing, being grateful for what you do have. This one is certainly a hard one to remember. Just think to yourself, am I in a Turkish prison? Am I dead? No? Then you should be grateful for the day ahead of you. I know that there will be rough days and trust me, I am not always happy and positive but I know that I am truly blessed for what I do have and for the people in my life. I definitely need to thank those people more & you should too.

Stay positive! Positive thoughts yield positive results. No one likes to be around a negative person. You just aren't fun if you are constantly complaining and being a downer. Besides that, your positive thoughts are contagious.

Last, it's okay to fail. It's okay to fall down but it's not okay to stay down. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. I have fallen many times. Some of those times were caused due to the bad decisions I made (okay, most were due to bad decisions) but I didn't give up. I tried a different way - went another way around and cruised on. Learn from your mistakes and try again. Just don't give up. If you give up on yourself, everyone else will too.


Those are just a few things I've learned. I've also learned that dogs love strawberry champagne cake but they really shouldn't eat it, blaming your burps on OMP in the middle of a store will get you dirty looks and cotton candy for breakfast is an excellent idea. Take these and do what you will with them - they are just a little life lesson from your Aunt Pam.