Despite my best efforts, I turned forty (fourty?) shit, who cares. At happy hour that night, someone asked me what I learned in the first 40 years.
BIG MISTAKE.
1. Perception is everything. Facts don’t matter nearly as much as how something (a conversation, an incident) makes you feel. Two people can have an interaction and walk away with two completely different perceptions of the ‘reality’ of what occurred.
2. Why yes, I am a master of the obvious.
3. I am good at my job. I actually work for a company that I totally believe in and as a group – we make a difference in the world. Yeah, we have drama and shit. The company was started 20 years ago by a family and lots of family still works there – this equals drama. So what. Of course, they are teaching junior-high kids html and universal usability standards, so, I’m screwed.
4. I still say way too much – I’m talking when I should be shutting up. I may have ‘learned’ this – but I wish I could actually fucking do it.
5. Your boss wants you to handle things on your own without whining and complaining all the time. Accomplish the goals you and your boss have agreed on and deal with all the shit you can. Ask your boss for help only when absolutely necessary to get shit done.
6. “Bad” isn’t always as bad as you think.
7. “Good” isn’t always as good as you think.
8. Buy the damage coverage on your new laptop – you’ll use the shit out of it.
9. Kids grow up. They stop wanting hugs and kisses all the time. Love them and let them go. (okay, I didn’t actually learn this – but, I am aware of the concept and trying to accept it).
10. People aren’t who you think they are.
