49 Things I’ve learned in my 49 years…About myself, relationships, the world, and medicine.
5 min readJan 19, 2020
- Everyone has a story, and chances are you don’t know anything about it.
- You can be the accused and the victim at the same time — it simply depends on who sees you and how.
- Some things just don’t have answers, and it’s true freedom when you are okay with that.
- You really can survive just about anything — the question is how you did it. The mind can be a great source of strength, or a great hiding place.
- I have often found myself looking around at the people and things that have changed over the years — only to realize it’s me that changed, not them.
- Books were my best friends…until my husband came along. But, sometimes, I’d rather be with books.
- Everyone has a little bit of crazy. When I learned this, my life got much, much easier. (But I’m most comfortable around the people who have a lot of crazy.)
- Sometimes, intentions don’t mean much and simply aren’t good enough.
- You can change someone’s day (or life) with just a few words or some kindness. You just never know which words it will be, or which person it will be. But I believe everyone can change a life.
- Even though physically, I’m the cat — I really do look in the mirror and see the lion. (Which is why I look at my daughter, who is an inch taller than me and think “I’m really only that tall?!?”)
- Never discount someone’s version of reality.
- There are some secrets you just need to keep to yourself.
- Being busty can get you out of speeding tickets.
- Botox — I don’t care if it’s poison
- The stuff that makes you the most proud is the stuff that is often the least fun.
- You can’t save everyone — or even help everyone. And sometimes trying to can be overwhelming.
- Ann Taylor and Loft have the best, most flattering mirrors for trying on clothes.
- No one ever really feels “like a grown up.”
- Not everything that helps people can be found in published guidelines. Every bell-curve has its outliers….I refuse to ignore those people.
- I’m terrible at colors, decorating, fashion, and pretty much anything else aesthetic — and I’m insanely jealous of those who are gifted at those things.
- I hate small talk and feel absolutely no need to fill empty space with it.
- There is such a thing as “knowing too much.”
- Being grateful is hard when you feel you are missing out on something (that doesn’t even exist). Stop comparing yourself to others or what they have…Others often show us only what they want us to see.
- I often wonder how I’ve maneuvered the last 20 years, and if it was really me who did all these things. Then I decided it doesn’t matter and started to accept the fact that maybe I’m my own kind of awesome.
- When you try to “top” each accomplishment with a bigger one, you put a lot of pressure on yourself and the crash is hard when you realize there really is (and needs to be) a limit.
- There are so many people who don’t have the knowledge you do — whatever that knowledge may be. It’s okay to share it and make them more comfortable if they need help. Sometimes the simplest things give people anxiety…help them.
- Women can treat each other very badly and many are hard to trust. And I’m ashamed to admit that there have been times I was on the evil side of this. You know who you are….and I am sorry.
- Electronic books are not the same as holding the real thing, but they pack a lot better for travel.
- Quality hair products are worth the money.
- Sometimes, it really is who you know.
- Once resentment enters a relationship, or there’s an inequality of give and take, the relationship is over.
- There is such a thing as being too honest.
- When you do non-traditional things — the people who question you will be in small number compared to the people who think you’re awesome.
- You can learn something from everyone — regardless of whether you like them or agree with them.
- Being stingy with information serves no purpose.
- I sound exactly like Carrie Underwood when I sing alone in my car. It’s too bad you guys can’t hear it.
- My health is really the most valuable thing I have and I’ve learned to be so grateful for it.
- “Happy” is different for everyone.
- Friends can change, outgrow each other, and simply become people you eventually don’t like very much.
- Aging gracefully is admirable — but it’s not for me.
- Some things will hurt forever, but the flip side is some things make you feel great forever. Take the time to listen to someone’s glory days — reliving a great memory is good for all of us.
- Some people are just plain mean…you will not change them.
- There is no one definition of success. Winning comes in so many different ways for different people.
- Anyone can do what I do, but no one can be me (okay, I stole this from Suits).
- Living your life in such a way that keeps you small means you reach and impact less people than you could if you let yourself live big and fearlessly. So, don’t let the opinion of very few stop you from helping millions.
- It’s okay to leave dreams behind if you’ve outgrown them. Forty-nine year olds don’t want the same things as twenty-five year olds. Edit your bucket list frequently and without regret.
- Learning to “scroll past” is one of the most disciplined and powerful things one can do nowadays.
- I’d love to take back all the energy I spent trying to prove myself to people over the years. When someone underestimates me, it costs me nothing — because I’m going to do my thing anyway.
- So many people talk about budgeting money, but rarely to people talk about budgeting time — which, as opposed to money, is truly finite. I can always make more money. Time…..not so much.
