32 Things I’ve Learned at 32

For my 32nd birthday, I did a little exercise of writing down 32 things I’ve learned by age 32.  I don’t promise any gems of wisdom or earth-shattering insights. But I thought it would be fun to do.  Interestingly, it was more challenging that I thought it would be.  There’s a big difference between knowledge and wisdom.  Not to say I’m wise, maybe just wiser than I was yesterday. Anyway, my 32 at 32 – hope you enjoy.

1. Good intentions don’t mean nearly as much as I wish they did.
2. It was easier to be happy with what I had when I was poor.
3. All manner of evils are committed under the guise of “good business”.
4. I didn’t know nearly as much about life as I thought I did.
5. It’s easier to be arrogant than it is to be humble.
6. Disney is a crock.
7. I call my cat and dogs my best friends, and mean it.
8. How you act trumps what you call yourself.
9. Being right is a lot less important than you’d think.
10. Asking questions without answers can be really satisfying.
11. Futurama only gets better as I get older.
12. People don’t expect you to say thank you and genuinely mean it.
13. Everything in life falls into two categories: things I can control and things I can’t. The first column includes me, the second column includes everything else.
14. Love is messy and never easy.
15. Religion doesn’t have a monopoly on morality and ethics.
16. It took a long time to figure out being gay is part of who I am, but it’s not all of who I am.
17. There’s power in the pause.
18. It’s not all about me.
19. There’s a big difference between what other’s say that I want, and what I actually want.
20. Happiness isn’t getting what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got (credit to Sheryl Crow for this one).
21. Listening is powerful.
22. I don’t know how people function without coffee.
23. People will surprise you if you give them the chance.
24. Being angry isn’t worth the effort.
25. Being good to yourself is harder than being good to other people.
26. I can’t save everyone from themselves, no matter how much I want to.
27.  If it works for someone, that’s all that matters.
28. The world isn’t as nearly as black and white as I want it to be.
29. ‘Wasting’ time isn’t really wasted if I’m enjoying myself.
30. Productivity isn’t the purpose of my existence.
31. I like being happy for others
32. I am nothing special (and that’s OK).

BONUS THING I’VE LEARNED:

The cake is a lie, and so is Trump.