• All About Jill
  • Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Ripped Jeans & Bifocals

Adoption, motherhood and midlife

  • Home
  • Christmas
  • Travel
    • Montana Travel
    • Texas
    • East Coast
    • West Coast
    • Midwest
    • Southwest
    • Way Out West
    • Everything Else
    • Disney
    • Cruises
    • Travel Tips
  • Lifestyle
    • Mom Life
    • Adoption
    • Entertainment
    • Cars
    • Recipes
    • Blogging
  • Mom Life & Adoption
    • Mom Life
    • Adoption
    • Listen To Your Mother

11 things I know that it took me 48 (ish) years to figure out

August 18, 2015 by Jill 15 Comments

Everyone around me is in back-to-school mode. My own kids start school in five days and I hope like hell I’ve bought everything on their two mile long supply list because the thought of going back into Walmart one more time makes me twitchy.

Traumatized by school supply shopping.  #backtoschool

Traumatized by school supply shopping. #backtoschool

As my two five-year-old bundles of energy and terror gear up for a year of learning new stuff, I took a minute to reflect on some of the things I’ve learned up to this point in my life. I decided to share these 11 things:

1. Most people are about as happy as they choose to be. Let that sink in.

2. If something isn’t going to matter in 5 years, you probably don’t need to spend time worrying about it today. The jackass who cut you off in traffic…what someone posted on Facebook…a dirty towel on the floor.

3. To ask myself these three things before I say something: is it true, is it necessary and is it kind? Actually, I read this on a meme, but it kind of stuck with me.

4. Be genuine and don’t compare yourself to others. If you think someone else’s life is a cakewalk, remember that you are only seeing what they allow you to see. Don’t worry about what other people do.

5. Love isn’t just a feeling, it is also a choice.

6. I enjoy my own company more than the company of most other people…I don’t have to apologize for being an introvert. I know who I am.

7. There are some things I’m just never going to be good at: homemade pie crust, shaving my legs without cutting myself, parallel parking. There are a lot of things I am good at. I’ve learned to be okay with Pillsbury and parking half a mile away. The leg shaving thing? I don’t know what to say about that one.  I give up.

8. Don’t surround yourself with people who don’t want to be with you or value you. This is true in all types of relationships. I spent most of my twenties and a good bit of my thirties floating through relationships with assholes who weren’t into me.

9. Be cautious when sharing sensitive information – you can’t un-ring a bell.

10. Don’t always wait for someone to do something nice for you: spoil yourself once in a while. Buy the good coffee and don’t wait for a special occasion to open that bottle of wine you’ve been saving.

11. Realize you will never stop learning. I’m old enough to appreciate that I’ve learned a lot of stuff over the years but realistic enough to know that there’s a lot I don’t know.

Now. I better go back and check that school supply list just one more time…I don’t want to be anywhere near that Walmart parking lot the week before school starts.

11 life lessons I've learned at 48|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals|@JillinIL

Thank you for reading!  Come hang out with me on Facebook and check out my Back to School ideas board on Pinterest for ideas about how to use 50 bazillion glues sticks….just kidding about that last part, people.

Follow Ripped Jeans and Bifocals’s board Back to school on Pinterest.  A click a day boosts my ranking on Top Mommy Blogs!

Please click! A visit a day boosts my blog ranking at Top Mommy Blogs - The Best Mommy Blog Directory Ever!


15 Comments

« Five things only moms of four-year-olds understand
I am not too sensitive about adoption »

Comments

  1. Julie says

    August 18, 2015 at 10:57 am

    Oh these are all excellent. I like the one you read on a meme, I want to print that out as a reminder heh.

    Reply
  2. Angie says

    August 18, 2015 at 11:49 am

    These are wonderful lessons!

    Reply
  3. Lauren says

    August 18, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    number 1 is up there with my all time favorite quotes.. and I am FINALLY starting to do #10 more.. I always ‘save’ everything.. I am trying to stop that.

    Reply
  4. Rosemond says

    August 18, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    I’m with you on the leg shaving. If you get that figured out, let me know.

    Reply
  5. Lisa @ The Golden Spoons says

    August 18, 2015 at 7:57 pm

    These are great lessons! #4 – yes, but I really struggle with the comparison thing. #6 – 100% 🙂

    Reply
  6. Allie says

    August 21, 2015 at 6:53 am

    I love this Jill! Full of wisdom and truth.

    Reply
  7. Allie says

    August 21, 2015 at 7:01 am

    Okay – I just watched your video and I’m a mess. You did a wonderful job. Beautiful.

    Reply
    • Jill says

      August 21, 2015 at 7:08 am

      XOXOXO….the written version is being published on Scary Mommy this weekend.

      Reply
  8. Stacey Gannett says

    August 24, 2015 at 10:03 pm

    Great post! Such a wonderful list, and so very true. #6 absolutely hit home with me, I think that is why I love my online relationships so much! LOL! Have a great week!

    Reply
  9. Vicki says

    January 27, 2016 at 10:19 am

    These are great, especially the point about people only letting you see what they want you to see. So true, particularly on social media. Thanks for posting.

    Reply
  10. Anne Fraser says

    March 17, 2016 at 3:15 am

    I have found my fifties even more liberating, just doing what I like and not bothering what people think. It is lovely having ditched all the people who were not good for me (#8), life is much more joyful. On the practical side – I can’t believe it took me 50 years to learn how to get grease marks out of clothes! And a zillion other things that I’m still learning.

    Reply
  11. Seana Turner says

    March 17, 2016 at 6:48 am

    I’m at the same age and stage and agree with your list! There is comfort in knowing myself better at this age, and not spending time and anxiety on issues that just aren’t worth it. Also, I’ve learned to buy many pairs of reading glasses and keep them everywhere!

    Reply
  12. thue tham tu says

    July 1, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    Having read this I believed it was really enlightening.

    I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this information together.

    I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments.
    But so what, it was still worth it!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 11 Things It Took Me Nearly 50 Years To Figure Out - Our Ladies and Gentle Men says:
    October 3, 2015 at 7:18 am

    […] author, and award winning writer, speaker and wine snob. She writes regularly on her blog, Ripped Jeans and Bifocals. You can keep up with her on Facebook and […]

    Reply
  2. 11 Things It Took Me Nearly 50 Years To Figure OutUpdates News | Updates News says:
    October 3, 2015 at 7:25 am

    […] author, and award winning writer, speaker and wine snob. She writes regularly on her blog, Ripped Jeans and Bifocals. You can keep up with her on Facebook and […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

All About Jill

I'm a digital content creator and essayist who copes with parenting and most other situations with humor and snark. Just so you know, if this weren't the internet, I'd be smiling awkwardly and answering simple questions like "How are you today" with gems like "I like pockets."

I really do love pockets, though.

I spent 26 years in the USAF, which went by really, really fast. I'm very proud of my service but I'm loving my second act even more. Writing gives me the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and that's what makes me happy. Welcome.

Read More…

Recent Snaps

rippedjeansandbifocals

Freelance Writer & Travel Expert
Producer, Listen to Your Mother SA
💜Mom via birth & adoption
🐈 Human to @remusthebengalcat
🇺🇸 USAF veteran
📍#texas

Jill Robbins
No one is allowed to eat or cook in this kitchen u No one is allowed to eat or cook in this kitchen until further notice. I'm only kind of kidding. (sponsored)

The pros from @maidprosanantonio were here today and we're doing takeout for dinner and enjoying all the shine and noticeable lack of fingerprints. 

Maidpro San Antonio serves a large portion of the city and the surrounding area and I'm thrilled that they're now in my neck of the woods. Visit the link in my profile and use the code JR2021 to get $100 off a recurring cleaning. #maidpropartner 

I'm totally happy with their services. It gives me some time back in my day to do other stuff and having my kitchen shine like this just makes my happy meter go up, up up!

I know it won't last for THAT long but I'm trying not to think about that! 

#maidpro #maidproday #maidprosanantonio #alamocreatives #sanantoniotexas #satx #satxbloggers #igsanantonio #sanantoniolife #cleanhouse #cleankitchen #takeoutthursday
(AD) Do you ever feel like you’re standing at a (AD) Do you ever feel like you’re standing at a fork in the road? Like…literally? I have been bouncing back and forth between a certain business decision for about a year. I might act like I’m sure of my path but I’m really not. So, I decided to talk to a psychic advisor from @californiapsychics 

Talking to a psychic advisor is pretty far out of step with how I usually make decisions, but in the interest of testing my comfort zone, I decided to go for it. I had an awesome 30-minute conversation with Psychic Tara that started with me giving my given name, birth date and the most pressing question on my mind. She connected with my guides and gave me some hints at things they see on the horizon as well as some reassurance that my path is the right one. Among other things, I’ve been wrestling with the idea of slowing down versus trying to grow. Tara said I will know when it’s time to slow down and there is still some soaring to do and some important people to connect with.

I’m not sure what I believe when it comes to cards and oracles and guides, but I can tell you I came away from the reading with Tara feeling reassured and energized. It was a very positive and affirming experience. 

If you’d like to get your own reading (I highly recommend!) you can go to the California Psychics website or download their app to book your reading today and use promo code ripped5 to get $5 added to your account when you purchase your first reading.

You can do your reading in the privacy of your own home via a phone call, like I did (I like the voice connection) or via a chat box. They’re open 24/7 and have a wide variety of prices to fit your budget. 

Give it a try! It was a really great experience for me, and it offered clarity with a situation I’ve been struggling with.
#CaliforniaPsychics  #CPMakeTheConnection
Two things we don't get much use for in Texas: hea Two things we don't get much use for in Texas: heated seats and snow pants!

Last week, I was glad we had both on hand. More coming about the Nissan Rogue soon. And one more picture of the crazy snow from last week before we're all convinced it was a dream. Single digit temperatures in Texas was pretty crazy. It's in the 70's this week. 

#Nissan #NissanRogue #AGirlsGuideToCars #SheDrives #WinterDriving #TexasSnow #TexasKids #texas #girlswholikecars #mamaadaily #idrive #happyymums #carsforwomen #carsformoms #snowday #texassnowday2021 #texassnowday2021 

@nissanusa @agirlsguide2cars
I have a long list of things that happened in 2020 I have a long list of things that happened in 2020 that I didn’t expect. One was Remus. He’s been a great and entertaining addition to our family but he is hands down the STINKIEST animal we’ve ever owned.

#AD Fortunately, we’ve got something to help us combat that litter box smell and all the other stinks that we deal with in a home with two boys...need I say more? @febreze  Small Spaces are perfect for the small, smelly spaces in your home: litter box areas, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

Febreze small spaces are small but mighty. They provide corner-to-corner coverage for complete odor control and freshness for up to 45 days. It has a clean, modern design that you can use with any decor. The clear front shows you when it’s time to replace.
Febreze Small Spaces 4-packs are available for a limited time at @samsclub  for $9.98, which is a great price. Each 4-pack contains 2 each of Linen and Sky and Unstopables Fresh, both which smell much better than Remus’ litter box!

Buy Febreze Small Spaces at your local Sam’s Club or with convenient Club Pickup now for a great price. Grab yours before they’re gone.

For more info, check out the link here or in my profile>>> https://bit.ly/3p7CyAC

#SmallSpacesBigStink 

@samsclub @febreze
#ad Did you know February is American Heart Month? #ad Did you know February is American Heart Month? 

In addition to Valentine's Day Hearts and other symbols of love, why not take some time this month to learn about the heart that keeps you going every day? I had a checkup and a long talk with my doctor about heart health in December. Don't worry, I'm fine, but it gave me a great sense of relief to know about some of the things I need to watch out for and some options for my future.

Lifestyle changes to incorporate exercise and healthy eating are key to a heart-healthy lifestyle. And, a low dose aspirin regimen with St. Joseph's Low Dose Aspirin taken regularly may help reduce risk of recurrent (second) heart attack or ischemic (clot-related) stroke for some individuals.

 Always talk to your doctor before starting an aspirin regimen.

No matter what your health picture looks like, take a little time to learn about heart health this month! Use as your doctor directs. #putalittleloveinyourheart
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 Ripped Jeans and Bifocals by Krizzy Designs

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT