If I Knew Then What I Know Now…Part One

 Rant:

Until a few weeks ago, it had been quite a while since I thought,  “Boy, if I knew then what I know now!” It happened at my 50th year high school reunion the beginning of August.  Reunions can be benchmarks of growth in one’s life. Wouldn’t you agree? If you have gone to a reunion of any sort, haven’t you walked away thinking, ‘Wow, I never would have thought that about that person/circumstance/situation.’ I am very proud of how far I’ve come.  And maybe, just maybe, if I share some of my insights after leaving my reunion I can make a difference in some one else’s life.

What I wish I did not do:

-Smoke!  Geez, what was I thinking.  It definitely impacted my skin.  And, who knows what it did to my insides.

-Be totally focused on the popular kids: trying to act, dress and talk like them.  And even after all that, I never felt accepted nor did I find my own identity.

-Boys, boys, boys.  Need I say more?

-Let the stigma of growing up in a single parent environment in the 50’s and early 60’s, run a lot of my life.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/30/growing-up-under-the-divorce-cloud

-Put my education way down the list of priorities and importance.

-Make assumptions about people based strictly on appearance.

-Ignore a compliment.

-Complain profusely about having to work at age 16 every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

 

Rave:

What I’m glad I did do:

 

-Listened to mom when she told me to moisturize every time I washed my face.

 

-Walked or rode my bike everywhere, swam at the local pool and skated on an iced parking lot all winter long.  Exercise. It’s second nature to me now.

-The boy who broke my heart in high school told me he peaked at 17 and has yet to find himself!! I’m glad we never married!!

-Started work at 16.  It taught me a work ethic that has served me well, throughout my entire professional life.

-Realized that if my Dad was in the picture, I never would have the wonderful, intimate relationship I have with my mom for a variety of reasons.

-Learned I never fit in with (who I thought) the popular kids were because I did not accept myself. It had nothing to do with them.  I went on my own personal journey.  That journey has taught me, don’t judge a book by it’s cover!

-Be thankful that even though education did not feel like a priority especially in high school, I received a wonderful education that has inspired me to be a life-long student.

-Learned to accept a compliment.

Attitude:

 

When I hear myself saying, “If I knew then what I know now”, I seem to follow it with, “Well, you didn’t so what difference does it make?” I realize life is a process, and if I knew EVERYTHING at 14 years old what would be the point of it all!!  Life is an adventure and if one chooses to be open to it, a constant source of “AHA!” moments that are woven together to create a unique tapestry called YOU!

STAYED TUNED FOR: IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW…PART TWO  I have asked some exquisite women to write what they would say to their 35-ish selves today. I can’t wait!!!

Originally posted 2015-08-30 18:04:48.