I've learned, in my twenties....

I did an age post the other day about 30 things you should know before your 30...only to realize that, "Hey...I'm still in my twenties...be it, late twenties...but still twenties, dammit."

So, I then decided I need to honor my twenties with a post.

I've heard from all over that people say "You grow in your twenties", "You learn and figure out who you are, what you want to be, who it is you want to be with."

It's basically a lot of you's.

and yes, I can attest to all of the above being true.

Now, mind you...I still have 3 years left in my twenties...and I know for a FACT that I will learn even more about life and who I am by the time I turn 30...but I thought I would go ahead and write a couple things that I have learned thus far as a twentysomething gal.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think the best part of my twenties...the part where you are about to graduate college and have all these plans made with your best friend... that those plans would not happen. Never did I think that at 22 I would hear that my best friend,who was 23, had cancer. Never did I think I would spend the next 18 months watching this beautiful, young, vibrant girl fight for her life only to lose her battle with a disease that is beyond our control.

That was the first time ever in my life I have watched someone fight so hard with all they had. She showed me what real true strength and faith and love was. To this day, she is the reason I give 100% in volunteering for Relay For Life. Little did I know that later in my twenties, that moment, the moment she told me she had cancer, would so strongly shape the person I would grow to be. 

I have learned that it's OK to not follow that boy. I have learned that you have to go with not only what your heart tells you, but that little thing called a brain. Not listen to what other people are telling you should or should not do, saying things like, "he was right for me and that I should stop being so picky." I learned that it's perfectly OK to stick to what it IS that I know in MY heart is right.

That was the first moment of my twenties that I knew I couldn't change myself and who I am for some boy.

That one day, the man I am meant to marry will come along and love me for who I am and not expect me to change. Now, that man...who will love me for me...I will move anywhere and whenever for him.

(as long as it's no where cold...I just don't like the cold)

In a heartbeat.

I know that now.

That laughter really does solve everything in the world. Whether it be a night out with my closet girlfriends having the time of our lives...or looking back at old photos of times shared with those who are no longer with us. Laughing through good times and bad is what life is about.

Laughter soothes the soul.

I've learned to not date guys I meet at biker rallies.

Or to date motor-cross guys...or just said motor-cross guy in particular.

That red dirt music is good for the heart, mind, body and soul.

That a guy who loves Jesus, his momma, OSU and knows how to two-step...is my kind of guy.

That little brothers grow up and go off to college and start their own journey at discovering who they are and the man they are meant to be...but when they come home to see their sister...they are still the same little boy that always melted my heart. That it's ok to let him grow up and to make mistakes...because you once made the same mistakes at his age...but he'll learn from them...that's what your twenties are for.

I learned in my twenties that friendship really can carry you through anything. That it's work. Just like any relationship, all the friends have to work at it to stay in touch. I've learned that no matter what life brings us, we always come together. 

Friendship...that's the best medicine.

I've learned to love wine.

I'm more of a mature drinker now that I am older.

Tequila doesn't quite go down as easily as it did when I was 21 or 26.

That you might not always get your dream job right away....but it's the notsogood jobs that will lead you to your dream job, or to your new friends, or to your husband...I have learned you might not like where you are at that time...but you are there for a reason. Whatever it may be.

I've learned God has a plan for you.

To trust and  to have faith

I've learned in my 20s...that when life gets tough...because it does, when your heart gets broken...because it will, that when things don't always go your way...because it won't....that it's just the way it is.

It's not always perfect or pretty or wrapped in a bow

But it's your life and you are only in your 20s one time...so you should embrace it for all it's worth and enjoy the ride.

Who knew you could learn about life over margaritas

I have this standing date of margaritas with a 70 year old man. That sentence probably sounds a little crazy, so let me explain. I work at a Physical Therapy clinic and you get to the point where you see the same patients often. This particular man has been a patient of ours for multiple injuries, so we have seen him for quite some time and when you see a person three days a week for months on end, they become sort of like family.

In my case, he has become like a grandpa figure, with whom I have margaritas with. It's actually one of my favorite things to look forward too. In fact, because my dating life has been fairly non-existent here lately...it's the only date night I have to look forward too...insert sad moment here...my dating life consists of margaritas with a 70 year old man.

Life gets busy and this and that,and we haven't been able to have a margarita date in a long time, so today he came into work with coffee and for the last hour we have chatted about life, love, politics, Vietnam war, basset hounds, cattle, boys who are dumb and just anything and everything under the sun.

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, you know those mornings where nothing looks right, your hair is a hot mess, you can't find anything to wear, you spill the coffee everywhere, you know...one of those mornings. Somehow after chatting with him, everything seems much better.

I don't understand it when people talk about generation gaps. Yes, clearly there is an age difference, and he might not understand me when I say certain things, like "WTF" or things like that. We are all the same, he has been through the same problems I go through, he has experienced more than I can ever imagine...and I learn from just hearing his stories.

I guess until that right southern gentlemen guy comes along who opens doors for ladies, loves Jesus and his momma, knows a good college football team when he sees one(Oklahoma State, of course), and can two-step with the best of them....you can find me having margaritas on a Friday night with my 70 year old date.

Simple things...

Why as adults do we make life so complicated? At what age do you reach where you stop seeing things as they are and not try to make them something they aren't?

Life is meant to be simple.

Not complicated.

Just ask any child.

I over-analyze everything. EVERYTHING. Every little detail. It's very obsessive and annoying and it doesn't do me or the fifty people I am asking to hash it out with me any good. Do you think sometimes that we over-analyze issues because we are trying to get the answer we really want? Knowing that the answer we truly want isn't at all the answer that we will get.

You get me?

I wish I was a little kid again...for lots of reasons. One in particular is because as a child you view the world differently, you view the world as it is. Just that. You don't judge. You sure as hell don't care what you are wearing or how you will be received. If you want to wear a pink tutu with cowboy boots and a tiara. You do, because your six and you can get away with it. At 26, people may think you are crazy. Just a little.

The reason I say all this, is because I was recently playing with the most adorable three year old. I just love her to pieces. I was having a rough day to go with a very rough week. Needless to say, I just wasn't feeling it...I didn't feel pretty, I didn't feel like being there or anywhere, it was just one of those days.

The first thing she said to me was, "Hello Lyndse, you are so pretty today...you can have my doughnut hole's."

That statement coming from a three year old, seriously made everything better. For one, who doesn't like to be told they look pretty and who doesn't like doughnuts?

See, it's the simple things.

All I really need to know...

Recently baby brother graduated high school...holla!! I barely cried. So proud of myself. He was of course as handsome as ever in his cap and gown. One thing that stood out to me...besides watching baby brother walk across the stage, was one of the graduation speeches. I am 26, I have graduated high school and college and have heard my fair share of some really motivating, encouraging, go get em' grad speeches. Do I remember any of them? Nope. Not a single one. I am sure they all sounded great at the time.

As this girl was standing at the podium reading her speech, I found myself nodding at everything she was saying. It was genius. Everything she was talking about is so true, and I thought to myself..."I need to be living my life according to these rules...and so should everyone else for that matter." The speech she was reading...well, here it is.

All I really need to know, I learned in Kindergarten

by Robert Fulghum

most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sand pile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life -
Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance
And play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world,
Watch out for traffic,
Hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.

I know a great deal of 20 somethings that definitely could learn a thing or two from this poem. How funny is it, that as we grow older we all try to complicate things...when really life should be so simple as sharing everything and playing fair. I have been saying for years that I need a job that requires nap time...I would for sure excel at that. Cookies and milk in the afternoon? Yes, please!

If only all our politicians and world leaders could follow these simple lines...saying sorry when you hurt someone does go a long way, taking things that aren't yours is not very nice, hold hands and stick together...I think sometimes we are so caught up in our own battles that we forget to reach out and hold on to someone when they need us the most.

Who knew at the ages of 4 or 5, we learned some of life's most valuable lessons. Too bad most of us have forgotten them.