What I’ve Learned — Week 24

As I sit here, sipping my coffee, and pondering life I come around to thinking about the lessons life has taught me over the past few weeks. There have been a few, and I’m stopping the list short of all the lessons I’ve learned, because a few need more deep thought and care.

What I’ve Learned

1. Wanderlust is real. I’ve had it since I was a young girl, and it will never go away. I’m happiest when I’m exploring the world, even if my version of the world is incredibly different from most others. That includes skipping the Louvre when I was 15 to take off with a friend in Paris and find Jim Morrison’s grave — the education was much better and I learned more from that one experience that I ever thought possible. Even if you don’t speak one word of a country’s language, a smile, a pleading look and crazy hand gestures between you and an older French man will help you find your way on le métro.

Sadly, the bust of Jim has disappeared from his grave, but he still beckons whenever I’m in Paris.

2. Art is like air. Yes, even from the woman who skipped the Louvre. I’d rather go to small galleries and museums,  explore and meet the artists, sit quietly and watch them work. Here’s where I contradict myself, again. I love Salvador Dali and when the exhibit of his work was at the High Museum in Atlanta, I drove 4 hours one way to see it, twice. I’d like to think that he is one of my spirit animals.

3. Take care of your knees. Knees are important, and when your knees are bothering you, it ruins your day, week, month, who am I kidding, year. I’m up for a new set of MRI’s on both knees because I’m like a bull in a china shop in regards to my own body.

This means instead of cute holiday shoes, I’ll be rocking my bright blue Asics and not caring one bit because I’m cushioning my joints. I’m much more festive when I’m not in pain.

4. Let people know you’re thinking about them. I do this more often than not now. Sometimes I send a note, other times there’s a handwritten letter, often times there is a text with a goofy photo. This lesson isn’t about you, even though the warm fuzzies that come from it are amazing, it’s about letting people know they matter, right now, at that very moment.

This line of thinking was brought on by hearing of an acquaintances suicide. What about those people I loved so much, what would their life be like now? Would their lives had changed had I let them know more often? Had we all let them know more often? I try not to dwell on the past, but when you’re missing the sound of  someone’s laughter so much it takes your breath away… you have to look at the lesson.

5. Let go. Negative people. Negative things. Negative thoughts. Just let go and don’t look back. It’s much easier said than done, and this lesson is one I’ve yet to fully learn.