A Reminder

I've been finding lately, that I've had to remind myself that I'm only 19. Oh good God, I'm only nineteen... I guess my "growing up" mentality hasn't quite gone away yet! When I was little, (I don't really remember but I'll take my dad's word on it) my dad would tell me "Sometimes you have to remind me that you're only ____ years old."

It's funny how those childhood lessons haven't really left me alone. Maybe I just think about it and realize it more now, due to my nephew but hey, it'll work:) - for any reason. I have now referenced quite a few childhood thoughts/games as I think it should be for now. Too often childhood is looked upon as 'immaturity.' I challenge that thought. Some of the hardest lessons I've had in life are what I would consider 'adolescent' lessons.

Not all of our 'growing up stage' is bad. It's our perspective of how it 'could have been' as we get older that messes it up. I know I'm getting over this whole 'what if' thing in life. "What if" doesn't matter. What IS does. Sometimes - as my sister said today - you gotta work with what you have. You won't get new things until you learn to appreciate what you do have.

I've always disagreed with the phrase: you don't know what you have 'til it's gone. Why of course I do! If I have a camera I don't realize it's a camera AFTER I sell it. I have a dog laying beside my chair right now. I don't need anyone else to tell me he's there. And I can tell you NOW the characteristics in this dog and what I love about him and what irritates me about ole Moosers. I don't have to wait until he's dead for that. Only a lazy person "doesn't know what they have until it's gone" because only a lazy person wouldn't take the time to look and acknowledge while that thing is there.

You can call it what you want... But in the end it's spelled the same way. Maybe I'm being a little harsh at the moment but.... I'm 19 and I get this concept. Offended yet? I hope not. That's not my intention but I won't fight it either. Offense happens, but it doesn't have to have power over you.

I've disagreed with a lot of things and a lot of people but I don't usually allow offense to decide if I still have relationship with a person. Just like I'm only 19, we are all only humans. I guess I say all this to say there are times to be hard on oneself and there are times to be merciful. I, personally, am still working on the merciful part. Being hard on myself I can do.

So remember this, you're only ___ years old and you're only human - but that doesn't allow you to be lazy.