26 in 26

Last year on my birthday, I wrote a 25-in-25 post and in an effort to continue tradition [one year's worth at least], I present to you - on this wildly uneventful 26th birthday of mine - 

26 [more] things I've learned in 26 years of life on this rotating rock

1. Coming up with 26 things I've learned during my lifetime is probably going to take some work. I should write more stuff down. 

2. A sense of humor is essential in getting through life. If you don't have a sense of humor, I'm likely not friends with you. Don't take it personally; you wouldn't like my uncontrollable sarcasm anyway. 

3. Becoming a parent is the most exhausting and rewarding moment you will ever experience. From what I hear, those two traits will never expire when raising your child. 

4. Nothing makes you feel old like going to the mall on a Friday night. "Damn kids. Pull up your pants."

5. Juice cleanses, I'm convinced, are a special gift from the Devil. 

6. Dancing in the car is not only cool, it's necessary. 

7. Showing someone appreciation can be achieved at the highest level with a simple, genuine smile. 

8. The three most difficult words to put together in any language: "I am sorry." 

9. It's okay to be selfish once in a while. Everyone deserves to think of themselves a time or two. Just don't make a habit of it.

10. A good book cleanses the soul. A bad book makes great firewood.

11. Annoying people are the flies of our society. If only we could swat them and get away with it. 

12. Being blunt is sometimes rude. But it's pretty much always necessary. 

13. After a bad day, a glass of wine and a good laugh always do the trick. 

14. When in doubt, just nod and smile. 

15. Call people. Call your mom. Grandma. Best friend. You'll always hang up feeling better about life. 

16. Not everyone will like you. That's okay. Odds are you don't like them either. Just accept it and move on. 

17. Living certain moments are the only way to get through them. 

18. A mother is someone who smiles at you, packs your bags, picks out dinner, makes the plans, finds anything missing around the house, gives the best hugs, reprimands you, and generally just keeps her shit together even when everything is falling apart around her. Among other things. 

19. Scales are meant to destroy your confidence so I would just avoid them. Go ahead. Eat that quesadilla. Mmmm....cheesey goodness. 

20. "Because without beer, things do not seem to go as well." 

21. As fun as it is to take pictures, it's sometimes best to just put the camera down and enjoy the moment. If it's that good, you won't need the photo to remember it. 

22. Make time for yourself. Even when you're exhausted, covered in your child's spit-up, still wearing yesterday's socks and all you want to do is pass out on your bed, take a bath instead. Read a book. Keeping yourself sane should come before taking care of everyone else, otherwise you're just wasting your time.

23. Reunite with old friends. They may have changed for the better. If they've changed for the worse, don't call them next year. 

24. Be brave. 

25. Take a look at the people around you. They are much more special than you might realize. Appreciate that they're in your life. 

26. Always be you. No matter how many people put you down or how awful you feel about yourself, understand that the best you can be is just you.