Is it just me or does everyone think age doesn’t necessarily bring wisdom?

Is it just me or does everyone think age doesn’t necessarily bring wisdom?

Is it just me or does everyone think age doesn’t necessarily bring wisdom?

I turn 50 next week (trust me, this won’t be last you hear of it.)

Yesterday, my daughters’ friend who is just 23 wrote a list of things he has learned in his first year as a paramedic.

It’s a beautiful list.  A list for life really. It includes the reminder to be curious, not just about other people but about yourself and why you react the way you do.

He says being uncomfortable is the best way to learn important lessons and suggests we be vulnerable, his deepest friendships have come from hard conversations.

I was prompted to write my own list, what have I learned in 50 years?

Say no.  Not just to your boss or your kids but to yourself.  Doing whatever you want whenever you want isn’t good for you.  Show some self discipline and others might follow suit.

Everyone is the star of their own movie.  Don’t worry about what other people think of you.  The truth is, the only time other people usually think of you, is to wonder what you think of them.

Say sorry when you are wrong.  It feels good to admit it.

To treat others the way you want to be treated really is the golden rule.

Don’t confuse ‘political correctness’ with kindness and empathy.   If your actions are hurting someone else’s feelings, then stop. But don’t be too hard on people who make mistakes either, you make them too.

If you buy a sign that says you want to ‘live simply’ you have completely missed the point.

In my experience most kids turn out like their parents.  So even if they go through a bad patch when you don’t recognise them, it’s normal, keep them close and they’ll usually come back.

If you want your kids to trust you with their secrets, you have to trust them with yours.

Shut up.  You don’t have to say everything all the time.

Singalongs feel really good.

The one minute rule works.  If there is a job you need to do that will take less than a minute, like send an email, put something away or feed the dog, do it now.  Being organised is just lots of one minute jobs.

Mental illness is as real as cancer.  Having sex with a workmate is not depression but sometimes killing your family or struggling to hold down a job is. We need to be clear about the difference.

No matter what you tell yourself, you have time to exercise.

Avoid the comments section of all social media.

Recognising you are not the smartest person in the room improves your IQ.

And finally, turn the radio up, wind down the windows and sing really loud.

Caroline xx