This month, ENERGY STAR is helping my family become more energy efficient. We are switching out the light bulbs in the rooms we use the most to ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs. Apparently, LEDs are a lot less expensive than the used to be, come in a variety of options and have much better quality of light than when you might have tried energy efficient lighting for the first time about ten years ago.
But my biggest learning is that LED bulbs with the ENERGY STAR label can last for 22 years.
22 years???
In 22 years, Mazzy will be 27 and Harlow will be 24. I won’t even mention how old I will be because that’s terrifying, but let’s just say, I hope one of my girls is around to switch the lightbulb for me, lest I slip on the ladder and break my hip.
What will Mazzy and Harlow be up to in 22 years? Will they be saving the planet? Building their media empire? Bleeding us dry with Pinterest-worthy weddings?
Not still watching Frozen, I hope!!!
Being in your twenties is an interesting time. For me, it was the decade between being a student and being a mom, when I really had to figure out who I was as a person. My friends didn’t influence me as much as they once did and my kids weren’t there to steal my identity. Yet.
There are so many things I wish someone had told me about how to take advantage of my twenties, so I’m going to use this opportunity to impart some lessons learned.
Here are 22 things I want my daughters to know in 22 years:
1. Do not spend all your time looking for the man of your dreams. This was my mistake. I would have enjoyed my twenties so much more if I appreciated being single and doing whatever I wanted to do, even if there was no potential to meet boys.
2. Travel. See the world as much as your budget allows. Once you have kids, you ain’t going nowhere.
3. Don’t obsess about your weight. You’ve probably got my sweet tooth and ability to pack on the pounds, but you know when I got my skinniest? When I stopped being so extreme about what I allowed myself to eat. Try eating a chocolate chip cookie without pretending it’s your last. Then you are less likely to eat the whole box.
4. Unless your passion is making money, don’t let money guide your career choice. When you have a family, you will hate every second of your job if it’s about nothing more than a paycheck. The easiest path to work life balance is having your time at work and your me time be one and the same.
5. Wear sunscreen!!!! Don’t wait until you’re thirty-five to realize you should have been taking care of your skin all along.
6. Don’t waste time being friends with people who aren’t nice people. They might have been the cool kids in college or the most fun people to party with, but you aren’t winning any sort of contest because someone who doesn’t like many people wants to be your friend. They will suck your positive energy, steal your boyfriend and create unnecessary drama that you should have outgrown by now.
7. If you are ever wondering if a guy you are dating really likes you, he doesn’t. Get rid of him.
8. Floss. (I’m told. I’m still trying to learn this one.)
9. Your body is your body. If you have to go to extremes to change it, it won’t last and it will just take you longer to learn to love it.
10. If you are ever feeling lonely, call your sister. She comes from the same place and understands you better than anyone. If you want a shoulder to cry on or a person to brag to, call your mom. She wants to hear all news— good and bad.
11. If you are trying to find romance based on Hollywood movies, notice almost all rom coms end when the two people get together. Real relationships are about the ups and downs that happen after that.
12. Don’t look for yourself in male form. Your father and I are totally different but work well together. If we were interested in all the same things, we would drive each other crazy. If we brought all the same skills to the table, half the shit adults need to do would never get done.
13. If you want to have children and a career, find a man who likes to cook.
14. If you ever get laid off, know that you can bounce back from it in a big way. That’s what your mom did.
15. Live somewhere different for at least a year. Growing up in NYC is kind of a curse because so many people migrate here. I like to think it’s where I would have ended up anyway, but truthfully, my one regret is that I never really left home.
16. Pick up a newspaper every once in awhile. Or read the Times on your iPad. Or visualize it on your iHolograph 2000. Whatever. Just be informed.
17. No one feels like a grown-up. We are all kids in adult bodies.
18. Everybody thinks they have no idea what they are doing when they first start a real job. Some are just better at hiding it.
19. Don’t live with someone before you are ready because it makes sense financially. It’s really hard to break-up when you are sharing a bathroom.
20. Your two or three closest friends are really the only friends that matter.
21. Don’t feel pressure to have kids if you don’t want them. Having kids is life-changing and hard. Take that decision seriously and don’t just do it because that’s what everyone expects. Even if your mother keeps pestering you.
22. Contrary to everything you previously thought, your mom is pretty cool.
Did I forget anything? Probably. Who’s got something to add they want their kids to know in 22 years? If so, you could win a $250 gift card from Home Depot, and a pack of five ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs from Philips, which will save you about $400 in energy bills over their lifetime.
My only requirements for entry are as follows:
1) Share this post in some way (facebook, twitter, pinterest, snail mail, whatever)
2) Watch one of the ENERGY STAR videos at the bottom of this post
3) Leave your comment below about one thing you want your child to know in 22 years
You can see the full rules here.
I’ll be picking my favorite answer to take home the prize on October 13th when I show off “before and after” pictures of my brand new fixtures.
There are tons more LED lighting choices available than ever before, but remember you must make sure your bulb is ENERGY STAR certified to ensure the quality of the light matches the incandescent bulb you are replacing.
ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program that has been helping businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency for the past 20 years. An ENERGY STAR label means the light has undergone rigorous testing and only the highest quality bulbs with the most energy-saving benefits make the cut.
Consider this: If every household switched just one bulb to an ENERGY STAR certified bulb, we would save enough energy to light two million homes for a whole year, save $460 million in annual energy costs and prevent six billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to that of 550,000 cars.
Now that’s something that could help your child’s future.
To learn more about ENERGY STAR certified LED bulbs, click here.
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This post was sponsored by Energy Star, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Forgive but don’t forget. People usually don’t drastically change.
You have hit the nail so on the head! I don’t know if there is much to add to this, but I guess I could say for my son, “Be a gentleman, impressing the guys isn’t what’s important. Unless it is one of the guys you plan on sharing your bathroom with planning for the future – then impress away, in either case – be a gentleman.”
<3 the world needs more parents like you.
Learn to cook at least one good meal that doesn’t require a microwave or come from a box or can. You can’t live on ramen soup and spaghetti-o’s!
Excellent suggestion. Plus, men love women who can cook, so as long as you have one meal that tastes amazing, you’re set!
Woman likes man who can cook too 🙂
Be each other’s best friends. Growing up my sisters and I were never super close and as adults we are even further apart. Always be there for each other, stick up for each other, gossip together… Just be the best friends at 25 and 26 that you are now, at 3 and 4 🙂
It’s never too late to become close with your sister. I was close with mine and that ended in high school. It wasn’t until my late twenties when I made an effort to bridge the gap. And now we are best friends. It just takes time, patience and a little bit of forgiveness.
Try to make the world a better place than you found it. And remember to call your mom.
In 22 years, My son will be 23 years old, on top of all the things you list above I want him to know I will always be there for him no matter what choices he makes. Yeh I know everyone says that to their kids but right now it is all i can think of.
For now I am going to find my missing socks since I dont have madame Helga to tell me where my son hid them. Yes he likes hiding my socks….actually he likes hiding anything he can get his hands on that he is not supposed to have.
After reading thru all the other posts that people have written I realized that there are a number of things I want my son to know…. You were raised to be a gentleman, that means showing respect to everyone, dont forget that. You are young dont grow up too fast. Finish school and live before you even think about settling down.
Oh dear god my child will be 28 in 22 years. That’s terrifying. Here’s the main thing I would want her to know:
Do not be fooled by a boy telling you he “loves you” when you are only 17. It’s lust, it’s not love. It’s fueled by physical wonder and knowing he needs to make you believe that to get you to do things. Don’t make your mom’s mistakes and believe he loves you and find out later your pregnant and he takes off the second he hears that. You have your whole life ahead of you to go away to school, live on your own, make mistakes and learn from them, travel and be young and free before you have kids. You were my unexpected gift, my blessing in disguise and I love you more than anything in the entire world, but it doesn’t mean I want you to do what I did. It was hard, I didn’t get to do all those things my friends had the freedom to do. I’m 24, single, living with my parents and raising a 6 year old by myself. I want bigger and better things for you.
Don’t criticize others. Things you swear you’d Never do as a hip 22 year old I guarantee you will do at least once in your life. Like leaving the house without make up on or driving a mini van. Stay humble and show a little grace, your time will come.
“That the hardest things are the ones most worth doing.” Break-ups, cross country moves, the thing you have most always wanted to do, marriage, having children, etc… all apply to the quote above.
To live… be a good man, to know how to cook, to have skills he’s developed in, dont bring home girls mom (me) wont like…or dont bring any. Be a gentleman. Learn how to play an instrument. Have great skills to cope with what comes his way. To know that he deserves the best, to go after what he wants to achieve. Travel. to know mom will always be there when the world has turned its back on him.
For my daughter, remember this from Coco Channel: A girl should be two things, classy and fabulous!
For my son, you were raised to open doors, pull out chairs, and be respectful not because you are doing this for a lady but because you are a gentleman!
It’s your race; run at your pace.
Be independent but don’t forget to lean on loved ones when you need to. Be daring, but not foolish. Be kind, but be strong. Eat dessert.
Never judge others too quickly. Some of the best people make the worst first impressions, while some of the meanest people make great first impressions. Know a person a little before writing them off or letting them in.
Time & manners….life is too short for everyone around you to think you’re an ass. You’ll waste away precious days trying to get what and where you want if you don’t know how to be a genuinely good person. It will also make the world a better place and let’s face it, at the rate of Miley Cyrus and Chris Browns out there, we need to ensure the whole “better place” thing.
Laugh everyday. It’ll make you feel young and forget about anything that’s not worth your worry.
Remember to do for others as often as you can and that everyone has something that they are trying to overcome. Just being friendly or lending a hand could really help them get through it. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it could mean the world to them that you thought of them.
Don’t sweat the small stuff! And most stuff is small!
When in a stressful situation, consider this perspective: what will the effect of your choice be in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years from now. You’ll probably find that in most cases, it won’t change the course of your life.
I want her to know, that even though she is special to her family, no one else cares that she is MY daughter. Unfortunately, we don’t live in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, everyone isn’t a special precious flower that deserves to have whatever they want handed to them on a silver platter. She has to put in work to get what she wants out of life, and always try her hardest, and be the best person she can possibly be. And remembering that life isn’t always fair, and it might not always go her way, but hopefully she’ll be able to take the losses in stride, and keep a positive attitude.
I want my kids to know not to underestimate a two year tech degree. It is just as significant and possibly more useful than a four degree. Also, community college is not a bad way to start your college career, it’s still an education!
In 22 years my son will be 24 years old. I’d want him to know that someday soon there’ll be a time when he’d kill to go back and be 24 years old again for a day — so enjoy it while it lasts, sucker. (To illustrate, I’d want him to read this marvelous poem by Kenneth Koch about being in your twenties: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2000/10/26)
Also, I’d want him to know that I’m fully capable of acting like that mom in “I Love You Forever” who drives across town to climb in her grown son’s window at night and rock him like a baby — so in other words, no matter what, he’s still my baby.
When you’re at a party or a bar with a friend that smokes and you half drunkenly say out loud, ‘I wonder what all the hype is about!’ and go and reach for one of her cigs….don’t.
Don’t waste your time trying to be what you think others think you should be. If you’re trying too hard to impress and persuade people to be your friend, then they probably aren’t worth it. Be different. Just be you!
I would tell her to be smart with her money…take $50 out of EVERY paycheck and put it into a separate savings account as a cushion. We made a lot of money-management errors in our 20’s and are now struggling in our 30’s with 2 young kids to support.
my grandma still tells me all the time and I will always tell my daughter, “Remember who you are”
Don’t try to change the person you love. They will not change, if you can’t live with it move on.
I want my boys to always remember that they are their worst critic. And that they can truly do anything they want to do, it won’t always come easily but if they work really hard at it they can do it.
Own a pet that requires your love and attention. No matter how big or small. From this you will learn responsibility and compassion. There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a dog when you first get home to brighten any day.
Being kind to others from the CEO to the administrative assistant to the barista to the doorman to the garbage man will get you very far in life. Politeness and kindness are often lost in our technological society. On the other hand, never let someone mistake your politeness and kindness as an invitation to be walked all over. You have to assert and stand up for yourself when the time is right.
Stop saying “I’m sorry!” — women do this all the time, and it just makes us look weak. We are NOT responsible for every. single. thing. that goes wrong in any given day! I’m SO bad when it comes to this, I say it as a way of “smoothing ruffled feathers” and making people think I’m not aggressive, just because I’m actually assertive. If you’re right, you’re right, and you’re NOT a bitch because you know you’re right and want others to know it!
love this list. I would add this:
Always know that no matter what happens, no matter how badly you might mess up, your parents will always love you. we will always be your number one fans, and you can ALWAYS come home. Know that we are always here for you and we will never judge you. your family are the only people in this world who will truly love you unconditionally. we will never turn our backs on you. You can always count on us.
Don’t waste all your spare money on drinks and clothes. Put some of it into savings, so you’re not playing catch up when you have a toddler of your own.
I want my children to know a few things:
1. Always be kind and gentle towards others (this includes both humans and animals). You never know what a difference you can make in someone’s life simply by being kind to them.
2. Always be yourself. Don’t waste your life pretending to be something you’re not. People who truly care about you will love you for being you.
3. It’s ok to make mistakes sometimes. No one is perfect and your dad and I will always love you and be there for you, no matter what.
Always say “I love you” before hanging up the phone with your parents, no matter how irked they’ve made you. You never know when you won’t hear it back. That’s my biggest regret.
Find a skill. Go to a technical school for a year or two, or get a hands-on job that requires labor. It’s much easier (and cheaper!) to know how to take your sink apart and put it back together yourself when your contact goes down the drain.
Learn to cook. Have a few go-to recipes up your sleeve. It sounds simple, but man, people appreciate you showing up to a party with a homemade casserole more than they appreciate you swinging by the grocery store and grabbing a premade buffalo chicken dip on your way to their place.
The idea that you must love yourself before you can love others is bull.It is so much easier to love another person, for many reasons, including that you can always step away for awhile and miss them. Loving yourself is hard, because we are bombarded with a consumer culture based on our insecurity, and are our own worst critics. no one else can tear you down the way you can. But we are also the ones who can build ourselves up. Even if you aren’t at a place where you can love yourself just yet, and that’s okay because that is a life long goal like gold medals and an utopian society, at least carry with you that you are WORTH loving, that you deserve to like and be kind to yourself.
I loved this post SO much! it reminded me (in a much funnier way!) of this book, which is amazing, too: http://www.amazon.com/Prudent-Advice-Lessons-Daughter-Every/dp/0740797417
oh and duh, forgot this part: The one thing I want my kids to know when they are in their 20s is that they are loved. It’s not fancy or funny, but that’s the number one thing. Whatever happens in their lives, I can say for certain that there will always be a group of people (mom, dad, grandparents, sibling!) who love them more than anything in the world.
My daughter will be 24!
I want her to know that it’s okay to fail. Everyone fails at some point. Failing means that you are trying. What’s important is that you keep picking yourself back up.
I won’t think she is a disappointment. I love her and will always be there for her.
Don’t be in a rush to grow up. Enjoy every minute of every day. Live in the present – not in the future or the past.
Your feelings are neither right or wrong, but they are real. Never be afraid to express them.
To my son I would tell him @ 24 the same thing I tell him now: You can kiss anyone you want – just ask nicely first. I don’t want you to be THAT guy.
If ever in doubt of how to handle a tough situation, be kind1 Kindness always wins even if it doesn’t look like it at first.
In 22 years my son will be the age I am now, 29. Something I have instilled in my children since I can remember is to always speak with love and respect. I hope in 22 years they continue to do this.
Your own happiness comes from yourself, not someone else.
You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.
May your past be the sound of your feet upon the ground. (totally hijacked from Fun.)
Even if it takes your whole life to find what you love, keep searching
And just put the toilet seat down. It’s not worth the argument.
It’s okay to ask for directions. It’s okay to use that oversized map you got at the airport. On the off-chance that you got it in Japanese, and English doesn’t seem to be working with the locals, there’s always charades. Or mime. Don’t wait ’til you’re halfway to mainland China to admit that you took the wrong train. In life, as in travel, It’s okay to admit you’re lost.
What a great practical advice, especially the ones not obsessing over food/weight, boys, leaving home, and staying friends with people who suck. I’d like to tell my kids to also travel, experience other cultures and lives, find out what they truly want to do, and that’s it’s ok if they don’t know what they want to right now.
People will show you who they are by their actions, it is your job to believe them….oh, and almost everything that you chase will run.
My wish for my kids is to always be the best “you” you can be! If you scoop ice cream at rite aid or make sandwiches at subway…be the best ice cream scooper or the best sandwich maker! Try to leave the world a little better than you found it. Pick up a piece of litter, go ahead and feed an expired meter! Respect and a little caring go a long way!
i love this!
Some advise my mom always gave/gives me: Never tell your problems to anyone other than your closest friends and family…20% don’t care and the other 80% are glad you have them.
That if it doesn’t hurt a little bit you’re probably not doing it right. This holds true for exercise and most major life decisions, they’re scary and a little bit uncomfortable but that’s what propels you further. Except for men, don’t ever let them hurt you ; )
Great list. My addition:
The flip side of #6. Be nice to other girls/women and give them the benefit of the doubt. When you meet one of your guy friends’ girlfriends, kill her with kindness. When you see a gorgeous woman with a gorgeous bag, tell her you love her bag instead of knee-jerking to hating her. When there’s a new girl at work, invite her to lunch. It’s a lot better place when women are good to each other. Plus, one woman you’re nice to could become one of those only 2 or 3 friends that matter in #20.
Good one, Natasha!
Take high school seriously. It’s a big stepping stone of what’s to come. Don’t focus on anything but you and your education. Doing well in high school makes college that much easier. And if you’re focusing on you, it’s much easier to discover your passion.
The stuff that seems like the end of the world in high school does not matter one bit to you after school also, date the bad boys all you want but marry the good guy!
Don’t get that credit card in college, no matter how cool that t-shirt/plastic cup/stress ball they want to give you is
Show up for life – every day – whether it be a wedding, a funeral, or a simple hug – show up
Take the time to get to know who you are and what it is you really want. Until you are comfortable with yourself and being by yourself, you won’t be comfortable really being with anyone else.
What ever list you made about the “man of your dreams” throw it away – he will show up when you are not looking (guaranteed) and don’t need one – and all that matters are the things you can’t see. Observe the way he treats others around him – if he is kind and nice to strangers, friends and family alike then you found one to keep 🙂
Take care of yourself. Just because you can push yourself to the limits in your 20’s, doesn’t mean you should. Learn balance. The older you get, the more important it is.
Just because you are being offered a credit card does not mean you should have a credit card.
If you take medication that lists “oily discharge” as a possible side effect, it would be best to take that warning seriously. And if fatty foods are the cause of the oily discharge, resist the siren’s call of pizza no matter what. Also, be sure to always pack wipes and an extra pair of underwear.
It’s funny- when I read “what do you want your child to know in 22 years” my first thought was “Your mother wasn’t always this tired.”
this made me burst out laughing. 🙂
My son will be 23 in 22 years, and his soon-to-arrive brother will be almost 22 🙂
I think what I would say to them both would be, “It’s ok to love someone with all your heart and not like them 100% of the time.”
Always have a garden. Being able to grow your own food is a skill everyone should have, the process can be therapeutic and relaxing, and fruits and vegetables always taste better and seem more satisfying when you did all the work and picked it yourself. Not to mention, with the way large companies are doing things these days, it’s always nice to truly know where your food is coming from and how it’s grown.
Pick your battles- with your parents, with your friends, with your partner, with strangers. There is peace in letting things be and power in finding what you truly want to stand for and using your voice to say so.
This will hit home more if and when you hold your own child in your arms for the first time…but just remember that everyone you meet in life is someone’s child, and treat them accordingly. We are all imperfect and vulnerable.
Even you, hard though it may be to believe at 22.
My mother-in-law says this one 🙂 It is a good one and I think you are right, means more to me now that I’m a mom too.
Our family mantra, Be Kind. Be Smart. Behave. Believe.
Outside of those things, you’ll figure it all out on your own.
I don’t normally get very teary when I visit here, but this was just beautiful.
great post. Similar to #17 and #18… Be confident in what you do – no one really knows what they are doing, we are all just hoping no one finds out we are doing our best to fake it.
Go to college or at least take a class. It’s never too late to better yourself. You can learn anything you put your mind too and there’s no time constraint and it’s totally worth it!
I have 3boys who will be 27, 24, and 22 in 22 years. I would want them to respect all women no matter their dress or attitude.
I would want my son to remember to keep use his manners and to put down his iphone-20 (or whatever) and look people in the eyes and have an actual conversation.
life is not perfect, nor are we, sometimes you win some you don’t, just learn from evry experience and move on.
Live your life not the life that someone else wants you to….
Don’t be a waitress through college. Yes it’s good easy money but it eats your soul and leaves you without the skills or work experience you really need upon graduation
Respect… yourself and others.
I loved this list and reading all of the additional comments.
You had so many good ones! I wish someone had told me some of those. Mine are similar to yours –
Don’t get married or have kids because it’s what society expects. Do it because you want to.
Don’t get a pet with a live-in boyfriend/girlfriend. That makes it even harder to break up!
My wish for my children is for them to always be true to themselves!
I can’t enter 🙁 and I LOVE your list, so it is hard to add on to it!! Especially the point (paraphrased) “If you are wondering if a boy likes you – he doesn’t”. I just had this conversation with my preteen, as she said a friend had a boy tell her he wanted to date but “in secret” as he “didnt want his friends to know”; I said, yeah, keep it a secret – so secretive that everyone believes he is a jerk, an that even she and he don’t know they are dating!! But anyway – what Ireally wanted to say is my advice would be around the use of technology; toremember texts, tweets, status updates, blogs, etc. live on forever so before you make any words permanent,take a breath, and try to never say anything you would not say to someone’s face. That (not in every, but majority of cases) if you haven’t seen someone’s face, they are NOT your friend. And to be sure to take time very day to put down the tech, enjoy the world around you, and be sure to spend just as much (if not more) time on your IRL relationships as your online ones ….
Don’t be afraid to learn a new skill and do-it-yourself. It’s much more satisfying to bake your own cakes or renovate your house; cheaper too!
I love you even more now than I did when you were born! And that’s saying a LOT since my heart truly began beating the day you were born! There is nothing you can do or say to change either of those facts!
That you need to love yourself before anybody else will.
I always tell my daughter to believe in her dreams for those are the definition of oneself.
call, not text or whatever non verbal communication will be then, CALL or face time your mother at least once a day. More if needed.
You can fall in love with anybody.
A.N.Y.B.O.D.Y
Therefore, don’t date with your lady parts in mind, date with your future 2 week old baby in mind. If he isn’t the type of guy who will take the night feeding on his day off so you can sleep then don’t even meet him for drinks. Date smart and be picky while you have the luxury.
Trust your instincts. Don’t let anyone ever make you doubt your self worth.
This is your best post yet. I especially loved your bit about not obsessing to find a man and instead, enjoy your 20s. I wish someone told me that 17 years ago! Going to save this list for my 7 month daughter:) thanks!!!!
How much I love her and how proud I am of her!
It’s not my own quote, but it’s one of my favorites…
“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.”
― William W. Purkey
Be open-minded about your career choices. College is great but it’s not the end-all be-all of paths in life. Find something that sounds like you would be good at or interests you, whether it be a degree, trade, entrepreneurship, or even volunteering and go for it. Also, don’t forget that if it doesn’t work out you can always try something else.
Wow! This list is so great! I find myself nodding at every line! Loving the stuff in the comments as well – life truths, indeed! So much has been said already, my inputs are these:
– Always stay active and eat as heathily as possible. The old adage is true: without your health, you have nothing. (Except mom and dad who will always be there for you 😉 )
– Don’t spend more than you earn and start saving early. Living without debt and being able to take care of yourself independently is freedom.
Love hard. Work hard. Play hard. Help others hard.
Sometimes the things you don’t plan become the best things you’ve ever done.
I want my daughter, who is 5 right now to know this: 1) you will always have a home. No matter where you go, what you do our the path you take. Even if dad and I pretended to be excited when you left; you can always come home.
2) whatever you choose to do, be it a career, college or a family; make sure it is what YOU want. Don’t let me (or anyone else) choose your path for you. The choices you make in your 20s impact the rest of your life. Have fun, but choose wisely and choose with your heart
It’s okay to make mistakes–even the really big ones, as long as you learn something from them.
Is it supposed to say e-mail under name? It currently says: MAIL *Will not be published), so I didn’t know if they wanted e-mail or home address.
In 22 years my daughters will be 24 and 23, what I would most like them to know is that they are my world. And I tell them every day but I hope in 22 years they truly understand the gravity that having children and making a home for them, the sacrifice the love, I hope hey understand that there is no other kind of love as one of a parent to a child.
Never, ever settle. You deserve to be happy. That might be work and no one is going to hand you your happiness (or anything else) on a platter. But, do what makes you happy, no matter what that is.
In 22 years, I want my grandchild to know that the little worries in life aren’t important. What is important is maintaining a positive attitude, surround yourself with people who love you, and be a good, kind person yourself. Everything else will fall in place. 🙂
What I hope to teach my child is that he will make mistakes in life, they key is how you deal with them. Apologize, learn from them, and try to fix them. Very few mistakes in life are permanent. And that I love them, and will always be there for them.
To always look for the positive in every situation.
I love this blog post as a 20 year old myself! Especially numbers 10 11 19 and 20!
Nerds have beautiful wives. Give them a chance.