You've Set On Me, But You Are Not The Sun.

I like to read, for pleasure! Imagine that?! And I follow quite a few blogs, but I haven't had the time to really enjoy them like I used to. As things are slowing down on the workfront and famfront I am getting an occasional break to catch up on my reading.  So taking a cue from the talented personality Meridth Soleau I have decided to treat y'all to a super fantastical post with 13 Lessons I learned in the 2013.

2013 was a really cool year for us. My youngest kid played football for the first time. My oldest is doing amazingly in High School (holy shit!).  We added a new pup, Gibson, to the family. Work is going fabulous. I've never been closer to my family and friends. However, this year I did have some important life lessons finally click with me. So with all of this "me finally getting it stuff" it seemed like a fun (and time killing) idea to get it all out of my head.

Charissa's Fantastical 13 Life Lessons of the Twenty Thirteen

Lesson #13 - You don't have to be best friends with someone to love them/be in love with them. 

I used to think that the people who were the happiest were those that seemingly seemed to marry, be sisters with, spend-all-of-their-time-with their "Perfect Match". Now, I'm sure such relationships do exist, but life is real. And life is filled with arguments, differing opinions, and different things that drive us nutso. This year I learned that sometimes personalities that are just like you also have the same weaknesses, trust issues, etc. Not so perfect sounding after all, is it? Sometimes a little balance to the universe keeps us all happy and loving each other.

Lesson #12 - It's OK to pour your heart out even if it freaks people out!

I often tell my friends that I love them. I grew up in a family where we didn't part without telling each other we loved one another. I've carried this over into my close friendships. Some of my friends didn't come from that kind of environment so I kind of creep em out with my lovey dovey side, but I think they've gotten used to me. So I do my best to reach out to those I care about and let them know. Sometimes I don't walk away when things are fading out because my heart cares. I'm not afraid to seem "desperate". Life is too short for that. We just spent the first year of our lives without my sister-in-law Samantha. I told her that I loved her every day and that is at least one regret I don't have to carry with me in her absence. 

Lesson #11 - Don't get so caught up in one thing you are passionate about that you neglect to enjoy the rest.

I have spent the past few years just loving life listening to alternative music day in and day out, non-stop. In 2013 I really got back in touch with the side of me that loves hip hop and pop music too. And now, my music life is so much fuller and fun. Sounds easy and lame, but I am seriously happier now that I am more well rounded. Same goes for my love of Hot Yoga driving me away from running and doing races. I am back on track and training for a half marathon in the spring now and it feels oh so good.

Lesson #10 - Not everything has a deep rooted meaning/happens for a reason.

Sometimes we just do stupid things and make bad decisions. I'm trying to be better at learning the lesson the first time around.

Lesson #9 - That crap about attitude, it's true. I'm sorry.

You will have the type of day, week, year, life you choose to have. Being positive and looking for the good vs dwelling on the super sad/bad really does bring the vibes you want in your life. If you sit around moping or being pissed off, no one really cares all that much. You just make your own life suck that way. No one even notices your martyr attempt. So just be as happy as you can be about stuff. It's all that we have.

Lesson #8 - You don't have to be a perfect parent.

Do your best. Try. Love your babies. It's good enough. So you don't home-school your kids because you have a busy career? They have really nice things and advantages because of that. So you let your kids say or do things "perfect parents" don't? Sometimes they get it out of their system by satisfying curiosity and they decide they make their own choices earlier in life and surprise you with picking the good ones!

Lesson # 7 - Sometimes people just change their minds

It's no one's fault. People evolve. Sometimes they are really passionate and it flips off like a switch. Que Sera, Sera. It is what it is, so don't dwell.

Lesson #6 - You can eat what you want and not be fat(ter)

I spent a lot of years thinking it was this or that causing me to be a wee bit plumper than I wanted to be. One day I realized I could eat pretty much anything and not gain any weight if I balance it out with good foods and good activity. Do I have a perfect body? Hardly. But am I feeling confident and healthy, you betcha!

Lesson #5 - Vacations really are super rad

Getaways from family trips to a fun destination to weekend trips with pals to see concerts, really are key to feeling alive. I've decided a bunch of smaller trips vs just one or two larger trips really is more fulfilling for me and my fam. Feeling blue or stressed? Go somewhere!

Lesson #4 - Slow Down

Rushing is rarely worth it. My kids are getting sooo old so quickly. They were just babies the other day. Now I am teaching my son to drive. Soak up life while it is happening.

Lesson # 3 - Expectations are no bueno

With the risk of sounding emo, which I am seriously not for once, when you create expectations, more often than not, you are disappointed. I learned this year to try to experience reality as it is, appreciate it for what it is, and be happy that it is.

Lesson #2 - Do less

Focus on doing the things we love well vs trying to take on the world half assed. It's OK to not be a Hasselhoff. Besides life gets exhausting enough. You don't need to be an expert at everything.

Lesson #1 - You'll never really "know it all"

I am in my 30s now so I feel like I have a bit of perspective. Then suddenly, life throws something at me I've never dealt with before and before you know it I'm learning and growing. Good reminder to stay humble and soak in other's opinions. I have so very much more to learn and appreciate in this life.

So that's it, my time suck of a list. So friends, any lessons you learned this year? I'd love to hear em.

Oh and PS - those of you that read my blog, I really do think the world of you! You make my life brighter. I just want ya to know it!