i wish someone would have told me...

 
                    Originally uploaded by tobkatrina

Have you ever wondered.... "if I knew then what I know now" - would I have done anything differently?  
Roots of She (a favorite website) is asking us to be the big sister and share what we have learned with the hope that it is  of  benefit to women 10 years younger than ourselves. Cool idea, huh?  This project will continue in the weeks ahead and I'm excited to share from my own perspective as well as reading what advice others are sharing so that I can use in my own life.
I am inviting you to participate as well, and would love it if you left a comment at the end of this post.  Here we go !!
*I wish I'd listened more, talked less.  I wish I had kept a journal and written down all  the things I thought I'd remember and didn't.  I wish I had listened to the whisper in my heart that always tells me the truth.   I wish I had listened to the advice that I was given instead of  "finding it out for myself"...much too late.  I wish I'd watched less t.v. (did any of it add to my life?  if it had been my last day here would I have watched that show?) Time is my most valued possession and it's the one thing I can't get more of, and I have no idea how much I have left.  But I do decide how I "spend" it.
*Since none of us know if this is our last day - I want to spend as much of it as I can doing exactly what I love and I want to remember that even the part of the day that I'm unable to do what I want - each breath is still a gift I want to receive.
*If I could only tell you one truth that I absolutely know for sure - it would be to make taking care of yourself the #1 priority.  You can get away with making bad choices for a long long time - but there is a price tag waiting for you - count on it.  Your body is the most amazing and priceless miracle - take care of it TODAY.
*Your future depends of the choices you make today.  Nothing is insignificant.  Create the life you want - don't sit and wait for it to happen.  WHAT DO YOU WANT ?? - the sky is the limit.  Too many times on December 31st  I have looked back at the year and "wished" I had lost more weight, or visited Paris, or become debt free.   On your planner or calendar write in what steps you need to take to make it happen.  Divide those by 12 for monthly tasks, then divide by 4 for weekly tasks, then divide by 7 days showing you what you need to do TODAY  to make it happen.  Because you deserve it - all of it - and more - with a cherry on top. 

One more thing - it's never too late.

 

THANKSgiving

US magazine runs a feature called "25 things You Don't Know About Me" featuring someone famous. I thought it would be fun to list 25 things you might not know about me. 1. I grew up in Gary Indiana 2. I have a brother 2 1/2 years younger named Mike. 3. My first dog was "Tramp" after my then favorite movie Lady and the Tramp. 4. I always had a Toni home perm or a painfully tight ponytail. 5. When I was little I walked to the grocery and put a box of Jello pudding in my little purse. The manager saw me and asked how I would pay, I said "Oh my I forgot my $" and he let me go home. I'm sure they had quite a laugh. I never again went inside the store with mom as I was terrified they would tell her 6. I am terrified of heights. 7. As a child Elvis was my boyfriend. 8. Performed tap and ballet at the historic Memorial Auditorium in Gary. 9. Took 3rd in the State for fastest 10-key adding machine. 10. Twirled baton and cape for Horace Mann High School. 11. First library book "Grimm's Fairy Tales" 12. Hate goodbyes. 13. Married, divorced 14. I was a hair stylist for 8 years. 15. Worked downtown Chicago (secretary to executive of then little known company MCI) 16. Terrified of storms, thunder and lighting. 17. Have ALWAYS been too sensitive and every emotion expressed by crying 18. Fiercely loyal 19. Dislike the color blue. 20. Treasure my freedom above any material possession. 21. Belief in God, and Jesus as Son of God absolute. 22. Growing up loved to dance and swim. 23. Crave peace and silence. 24. Smoked for 20 years, beginning in my teens. 25. Always had zero tolerance for drug use.
I am thankful for all the experiences that made me who I am, all the lessons I have learned, and the unconditional love from both parents. I have met many people from many places and backgrounds and am fortunate to have several wonderful friends. May you enjoy today, and reflect on all the blessings in your own life.