50 Things I Have Learned In These 50 Years

1.  It has taken me a long time to become the person I want to be.
2.  Learning to forgive takes practice.
3.  No matter how good a friend is, they are going to hurt you every once in a while, and you absolutely must forgive them for it.
4. No matter how hard you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.
5. Let your children fail, it prepares them for life and I promise they will be OK.
6. Everyone doesn’t have to like you and vice-versa.  Hey, there are people in your life who are just not the right fit, it is cool to back off from them or even let them go.  *You ain’t gotta be their friend on Facebook*
7. Tend to your friendships, especially the oldest friendships. Life sometimes gets in the way, but these folks know you and love you best…In spite of YOU!
8. Bad shit will happen. Part of living and getting older is experiencing troubles in life.
9. Promptness shows respect.
10. You cannot avoid offending people every so often, but when you don’t mean it, apologize…When you do, accept the consequences.
11. I can and should trust my gut.
12.  It was fine for Coach’s former players and students/my children’s friends to call me “Ms. Scheree/Ms. Lipscomb/Ms. Rawles” when they were younger, but now that we are ALL adults, I would much rather them switch over to “Scheree.”
13.  I miss my grandparents dearly. I will never probably stop and that is OK.
14. It is possible to love your children as much as life itself.
15.  Exercise is an excellent way to manage stress and to stay off things like Prozac, Xanax and alcohol.
16. Cough syrup doesn’t work.
17. It is 100 times easier to fall in love than to stay in love.
18. Broken hearts do mend and no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
19. It is a lot easier to react than it is to think.
20. You cannot make someone love you; all you can do is be someone who can be loved.
21. Either you control your attitude or it controls you.
22.  It’s not what you have in your life, but WHO you have in your life that counts.
23. My best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
24.  Even though I might think I am right, it doesn’t mean I always am.
25. Earning my advanced degree 20 years after my undergraduate degree feels way better than earning it right after college…I would not have appreciated the struggle.
26. Money and stuff are not that important; feed your soul not your ego.
27. You can still have mind blowing, amazingly wonderful SEX! When I was in my 20’s I thought you stopped doing it when you were in your 40’s.
28. I also assumed that at this age, I would no longer want to get undressed in front of someone…that I might not want them to see me nekkid, I am happy to let you know, that is NOT the case.
29. I don’t regret things I did when I was younger, I do kind of regret things I didn’t do.
30. If you ask for my opinion, I will be honest.  If you don’t want to know, umm, don’t ask me.
31. But I will keep my opinion to myself if you don’t ask, because that is where it belongs.
32. Anyone who judges you by the kind of car you drive or the shoes that you wear isn’t someone worth impressing.  *Phuck ‘em*
33. Keep dental visits regular and always floss.
34. Mental illness is real and not disgraceful, it is the stigma that is disgraceful.
35. In crisis or conflict, ALWAYS think strategically.
36. Exercise really doesn’t take time. Exercise will give you time.
37. All the stuff you have in your closet that you don’t want, need, wear or will fit in again, donate it.  Keeping it just makes it harder to find those things you do want, need and will wear again.
38. When you mess up…fess up.
39.  I am definitely not the center of the universe. Although, I might have thought I was at one time, but that probably wasn’t accurate thinking.
40. I no longer take rejection personally, mainly because I am not the center of the universe (see number 39) and it’s usually more about the other person than me.
41. I am working on no longer stuffing my feet into shoes that hurt just because they are fantastically gorgeous.
42. Saying “No” or  “I’m busy” is categorically OK.
43. If my legs can still rock a miniskirt, then guess what…I am wearing one.  And MY legs definitely can.  Oh, and I can rock natural hair and be professional.
44. No matter how many weights I lift, there is no way I will have First Lady Michelle Obama’s arms…Knowing me, I will just injure my damn self, so I run.
45. I am going to keep having fun and being adventurous.
46. I used to love cooking I actually hate it now. It takes too much time and time is precious. *LMAO*
47. Just because someone doesn’t love you the way you think they should doesn’t mean that they don’t love you with all that they have.
48. Be vulnerable…Feel, be open, and be authentic.
49. Count your blessing every single day.
50. Fifty does not feel like 50!! It doesn’t feel like what you thought it would feel like in your 20’s or 30’s…It feels the way you feel now. Embrace it! Be confident! Love it!

Halle and the Double Standard!!

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/halle-berry-reaches-settlement-child-support

I am probably going to hear it from some of my girlfriends, but I have never been afraid of a little controversy or trouble. "Trouble is my middle name." Plus, this is my blog with my opinion.

I just have one question...If it were a man forced to pay the mother of his child for the type of lifestyle his child is accustomed to, would this be a problem, as well? I think not.

Halle was looking for a sperm donor, she got a man that wants to be a part of HIS child's life. We don't know what she said to him prior, during or after Nayla was born. However, to me it's clear she used him to have a baby and then wanted no parts of him and he wasn't having it.  She loved him before and then she didn't...her love does not diminish his love for his child.

We fuss and fuss and fuss about a man not being a part of his child's life and we fault a guy for "getting paid" like we encourage mothers to do. 

Yes, you may absolutely miss me with the slander of Gabriel. 

If You Run, You Are A Runner...If You Swim Are You A Swimmer?

Today, I swam!!! I did the breaststroke because that is what I am most comfortable with in the pool. I talked to the lifeguard~Devan~and requested that he not let me drown. He said he wouldn't and that he would watch me. I was grateful for his response. 😚😚

I swam up and down a total of eight times. I stopped when I got tired, because I am 5'9 and can stand in the pool. I caught my breath and kept moving. I talked to Devan and he gave great advice...Who are you racing? Take your time. You have a great stroke. You are rushing your breathing. Last lap, well you accomplished your goal. You have done more than most, the laps will come. See you tomorrow or Wednesday. You know your arms are going to hurt. You are welcome...

I had the same peace about me that I have when I run. My goal to swim 30 minutes straight with no chaser.