Life Lessons From 2011

2012 is here!  Wow huh?  Another year has come and gone...and while this is the start of a new year, I am taking the time to reflect on things.  I learned so many lessons this past year due to so many things that happened in my life.  

Lesson #1:

I learned to try to not fit in so much among others.....

~This past year, I have had a few friendships falter and go by the wayside.  Hurtful things were said and done.  And now that I look back on things, it really wasn't anyone's fault that they ended...it was just the fact that I just tried way to hard to fit into their lives.  I was always trying to impress them or what not.  When the truth of the matter was, I really never fit in from the beginning.  

You shouldn't have to try so hard in friendships.  They should just come easy to you.    It is amazing how you can step back and see yourself through others if you really take the time to look.  And this person that I'm seeing when I was around these other people, is not who I really am.  Friendship wise, I shouldn't have to try so hard to fit into someone's life. It was exhausting for me....and literally took up to much time and energy.  Especially when the feelings were certainly not reciprocated.  

When certain people didn't want to hang out with me...I went around and around and around in circles trying to figure out why.  Like....what is wrong with me to where they don't want to be around me.  I drove myself crazy thinking about it...when honestly, there was no need for that!  I want to kick myself in the butt because I wasted so much time and energy trying to figure out what was wrong.  When really, it wasn't me....it was just the fact that I never really fit into their lives from the get-go.  

So yes....this year...I am not going to try so hard to fit in to anyone's life anymore.  I refuse to waste what precious time I have trying to make people like me...lol.  It's just to darn stressful.  Wanna be my friend?  That's great and wonderful.  Great to have you aboard ;)  If not, that's fine too.  I wish you well with life and everything it has to offer ;) ~

Lesson #2:

I learned the art of forgiveness....

~While two of my friendships were falling apart, an old friendship also came back into my life.  Interesting how that happens.  They always find a way to creep back into my life....lol. But because of this, I have learned to forgive and move on.  Whatever happened in the past should be left in the past.  Let 'sleeping dogs lie' and get on with things.  Life is to short to be petty about stupid little things.....which brings me to the next lesson..........

Lesson #3:

I learned that life is just to dog gone short.....

~My beloved uncle passed away back in September of this past year.  Going to his wake, reception, and ceremony was a very touching experience for me.  It was like, one minute he was here....and the next minute he was gone.  He had a heart attack while sleeping and passed away...no warning signs or anything.  

Husband Man and I packed up the kids and headed to Oklahoma to be with my side of the family that weekend.  It was hard explaining things to Ava (my daughter)....to where she could understand.  She wanted to know why so many people were crying and sad.  And why my uncle was laying very quietly and peacefully in a coffin for everyone to see and why he wasn't waking up.  Such a hard life lesson to learn for a 5 year old....but an important one.  

Death is inevitable.  We all are going to have to go through it some day.  Life is just way to short to worry about the petty things.  Tell the people around you that you love them every day because you don't know what tomorrow will bring.  It sounds very cliche'.....but it is soooo true!  Make each day of you life count. ~

Lesson #4:

I learned the art of patience.....

~Anyone who is married and has children can tell you this.  Having children and a husband can test your patience like there is no tomorrow.  You combine all this with having a house that is a 'fixer-upper' and you have one big ball of stress heading your way.   I sometimes wonder how I do it everyday...lol...literally.  Husband Man thinks I'm super mom....but what he doesn't know...is that I pray for patience every day....lol.  Literally.  And God must hear my prayers because he has blessed me with lot of it so far.  Although, I have lost it once or twice...but he so graciously has given it back to me. ~

Lesson #5:

I learned that Kindergartners are people too....

~Ava started Kindergarten in 2011.  Since she's been in school, I have helped her class out a few times.  And the one thing that I am learning...is that even though they are smaller then we are, Kindergartners are people too.  They are just cuter then we are when it comes to things ;)  ~

Lesson #6:

I learned that while traveling on a plane, there is nothing better then arriving safely to your destination....

~Yep.  I learned this lesson back in May of 2011 on my trip to Colorado. It was just the kids and I traveling...and well...let's just say that you will never see me on a plane for at least the next 10 years.  Nothing worse then feeling like you are re-living the first few episodes of Lost....you know, the one where everyone is still on the plane before it actually crashes...and then you see the beginning stages of the crash.  

Yeah....that was us.  Suitcases weren't flying in the air...but they were rolling up and down the aisles...as well as people literally being lifted from their seats from the majorly aggressive turbulence.  My kids deserve a gold star for how they acted while we were going through all that.  It was mommy who had the issues.  I have never been so happy to be on solid ground in my life.  God Bless the ground we walk on.~

Lesson #7:

I learned that our family really does know the importance of team work........

~Case in point....when Ms. Paula Deen came to visit our local Wal-Mart in town.  I found out about this 'surprise' visit a day before it happened.  My kids both had school the afternoon she was supposed to arrive, Husband Man had to work, and Ava's Fall Carnival for school was that evening.  Opting out of the carnival was a no-go because we already had pre-paid the admission fee.  But Ms. Paula Deen was coming and I didn't want to miss that either.  What's a mommy to do?  How can she keep her promise to her kids and at the same time, fulfill her wish?

I put on my thinking cap and set out to plan the day.  This took lots of multi-tasking on my part and the help of Husband Man.  Then I put it into action.  I knew I had to take the kids with me if I even had a chance of seeing Paula.  I packed up the mini-van with everything that I thought they would need to wait with me in the loooong line then drove off to pick them up from school. We made a quick stop to Mickey D's (which I am not proud of...but desperate times call for desperate measures) for something to eat then headed over to the Wal-Mart.  

We waited in line for 2 or 3 hours to see her.  Ava took her school work/home work out of her book bag and we all had fun reviewing it.  The other people in line with us thought she was a hoot.  She provided them with some much needed entertainment during those few hours.

Husband Man ended up coming to the Wal Mart after work and took the kids to the Fall Carnival while I stayed in line to see Ms. Paula Deen.  The plan was brilliant and it worked.  Everyone got what they wanted that night.....including me.........and an added bonus..Paula signed ALL FOUR of my cookbooks ;)  

So yes....meeting Paula wouldn't have happened if we all hadn't come together as a family.  I was the multi-tasker and planner....Husband Man was the helper...and the kids...well...they did what they do best and provided the entertainment ;)  God Bless my family. ~

Lesson #8:

I have learned to count my blessings and to stop being jealous of others.....

~This is a trait of mine (jealousy) that I wish would not appear.  I am always, always, always, always looking at what others have and say to myself, "must be nice.  I wish I had that."  Or...."wish that were me."  Or...."she just doesn't know how lucky she is."  It doesn't make an appearance as much anymore...but I must admit, this ugly trait likes to still rear it's head from time to time.  I think we are all like this in one way, shape, or form.  Some of us hide it better then others though.  

What I've learned so far, however, is that instead of focusing on what others have that I wish I had...I need to count my blessings and concentrate on the things that I do have in my life.  The grass may always look greener on the other side....but that certainly does not mean that it is.  

I used to think I was the unluckiest woman out there....literally.  I would look at what other people would have in their lives and think to myself, "wow!  She's so lucky.  I wish I was half as lucky as her."   When really, things aren't always what they are cracked up to be...no matter how people may seem to look.  

I started counting my blessings.  And truth be known, I'm getting a lot better at it too ;) I'm learning to turn negative situations into positive ones....and learning that just because so and so has so and so....it shouldn't mean a gosh darn thing to me.  Why should I give one flippin iota about what others have?  I really shouldn't.

I've come to realize that I am one lucky woman.  I have 2 beautiful kids, a house, an awesome husband, wonderful and supportive family members, a few close friends, and great neighbors.  This is all a person needs to make it through life.  This is what I am learning....and still continue to learn.  

------And there you have it folks....I may add onto this if I think of more....but this is what I have learned so far from 2011.-------

What important lessons have you learned this past year?