Things I've Learned

Today's prompt in the challenge is "Things you've learned that school won't teach you." I find this to be one of the most difficult prompts because how can you distill all that you have learned into one blog post? I learned plenty in school, and I've forgotten a lot about what I've learned. I know longer recall dates, facts, and formulas. I think I've retained ideas, but I have trouble forming words when tested. But this isn't about what I learned in school.

1. The most important thing, the only thing you ever really need to know and understand: love. Love is the most important thing in life. Jobs may come and go, homes will be lived in and left, your bank account will fluctuate, but love will remain constant. So when you are with someone you love, make sure they know you love them. Look them in the eye, listen to their stories, laugh at their jokes, tell them that you've though about them, give them a hug, or just sit in knowing silence. But always be present for the ones you love, because you never know when your last moment with them will be. And in the end, the love will be all that matters.

This lesson really hit home for me when my grandmother passed away. Just three months earlier, right before the start of my final year of college, my uncle killed himself. It was the first death in the family that I had experienced, and it was shocking and painful. I did not know how to deal with it, but thankfully I had some good friends to surround me with love and support. During Christmas break, right after Christmas, my family got news that Grandma Louise's cancer was wreaking havoc on her insides and she probably had about six months to live. Two days later six months turned into a week. She didn't make it the week. On January 3, I awoke to the phone ringing constantly. My Aunt Becky was updating my parents on Grandma Louise's situation, saying that Grandma was asking for my dad (her son). My dad booked a flight for he and my mom to get out there as soon as they could, but just a few hours later Grandma Louise passed. It wasn't fair. Why couldn't God just let her hold on until my dad could get there and let his mother be with him one last time? That was the moment that I truly understood that love is the meaning of all of this. Love is why we are here.

2. Life does not go according to a plan. You can certainly head down one path, but there will likely be roadblocks in the way. There may even be detours. And sometimes you end up on a different path completely, but it's all ok. There is no path you are supposed to be on other than the one you are on. One of my favorite lyrics from one of my favorite songs says, "nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be" (from All You Need is Love by the Beatles). All that matters is that you show up on your path and take in the lessons it has to offer.

This is the lesson that I keep learning over and over. I've found that in life it tends to take me longer to do things than it takes everyone else. I never had a boyfriend growing up, never had a date to a dance. I didn't head off to college knowing what I wanted to study. I went to community college, which took 3 years to complete due to moving from Arizona to Washington and having completely different requirements for transferring to a university. I decided after my 2nd year of college that I wanted to major in French and after the 3rd year I knew I wanted to minor in Art History. I transferred to a university where it took me another 3 years to complete my degree. It sure was not the typical path for a college student to follow, but I wouldn't change it. Each year I learned something about myself that took me to the next step. I learned that I love to dance. I learned that I adore the French language, and that art simply fills me up. I learned that I can't stomach a crappy job (at Disney World, no less). I learned how to be a leader. I learned how to take a leap and live in a country where I barely speak the language. It took me 6 years to get a degree, but those 6 years formed me into an adult in ways that many college students don't experience. It took another few years before I started dating and had my first kiss (say what?! yes, it's true, now I'm a freak). But every bump and turn along my path has led me to where I am right now, and I firmly believe that I am where I am meant to be.

3. Just be yourself and everything else will fall into place. Don't worry about making friends with so-and-so, or trying to fit in with a certain crowd. The people who are right for you can only find you if you just be yourself. Know who you are, know what you believe in, and don't be afraid to have a good time. Belt out a song if that's what you're feeling. Break into an Irish jig if that's what makes you happy. Wear all yellow or all black, just to please yourself. At the end of the day, you have to go to bed with yourself, so make sure that you're someone you can trust.

This is another lesson that is on repeat for me, though I learned it pretty early on. I've got a strong enough personality to know what I like and that I'm not going to change any of that for anybody. I love walking down the street with my friends belting out Disney songs, and sometimes I wear yellow, or bright pink, but mostly bright green, and I like making references to PeeWee's Big Adventure. If you're on board with that, you're my new best friend. If that's not really your thing, but you like me anyway, then you're my new friend, and if you don't like any of that and therefore can't stand me, then you don't need to be part of my crew. All of that is ok. Every good friend I've had has drifted my way when I've been the most shamelessly myself. And now that I think of it, my good friend Adrienne won't join me in song, tends to wear dark colors, and I don't know if she's even seen PeeWee's Big Adventure, but she'll stand by and laugh when I do my thing. And I laugh when she does her thing (like talk about smart grids, which I still have a hard time understanding).

I love odd numbers, and trinities are rad, so I will stop there. I think out of all I've learned outside of school, these are the most important. How do you feel about this list? Would you add something to it? What is the biggest lesson you have learned? Leave a comment or send an email- I'd love to hear what you have to say!

14 comments

Share: