Celebrating 51: What I Wish I’d Known at 31

May 8, 2015 by betsydecruz 26 Comments

Today I’m celebrating my 51st birthday. While my sweet husband makes me a pancake breakfast, I’m giving myself a birthday present. Instead of writing a Five Minute Friday devotional post like usual, I’m going to spend some extra minutes getting into God’s Word so it can get into me.

Here’s a re-print of a post I wrote last  year in case you missed it. Please do leave a comment about your favorite life hack.

As I celebrate my 50^th birthday today, I remember my 30’s when I was in the trenches with my babies and hanging on for dear life. I thought fifty meant I’d be living easy, and I was partly right. Some things have gotten easier now that the baby phase is over, but I had no idea back then about the fireworks that would result from the haywire hormones of teens and a fifty year old mom in the same house! (Luckily my sweet kids are gracious and kind to put up with their mother.)

Today I continue celebrating joyful, hopeful fifty with the list I started Monday.

30 things I wish I’d known in my 30’s:

Productivity

21.  Each day, make a to-do list of three items that you want to accomplish. Draw a line below the third item and continue your list. Make sure you do the first 3 things. Get to the rest as time permits

22.  Spend the first hours of your day on creative, productive work. Answer e-mail later.

23.  Don’t forget to dream. Jot down ideas that come to you.

24.  Don’t underestimate the power of one baby step towards a goal.  What can you do today in just 15 minutes?

25.  Focus: Turn off social media, set your timer for 25 minutes and work on something without stopping.

Enjoying Life

26.  Enjoy the work you’re doing right now rather than trying to get through it so that you can have fun later.

27.  Don’t take life too seriously. Lighten up. Find something to laugh at.

28.  Even if it’s just 15 minutes, take time every day for something you enjoy.

29.  Have more fun with your husband and kids.

30.  Play more games.

Maintaining Perspective

31.  Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith.

32.  Hang in there when the going gets tough. Remember that better times are around the corner.

33.  When you’re depressed, remember “Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY comes in the morning.” Sooner or later things will change.

34.  Instead of focusing on one or two things in your life that aren’t going well, celebrate your blessings.

35.  Remind yourself daily: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)

Marriage

36.  Accept your mate as he is.

37.  Invest time in your marriage each week: go on a date.

38.  Let your husband know daily what you appreciate about him.

39.  Focus on your mate’s strong points rather than on his weaknesses.

40.  Kiss your husband every day when parting for work, returning home in the evening, and before bed.

Self- Care

41.  Buy yourself a new dress now and then. (Then you won’t go crazy trying to figure out what to wear for your next special occasion.)

42.  Find something new to learn.

43.  Turn up the music to lift your spirits.

44.  Buy fresh flowers to brighten your heart and your house.

Everyday Hacks for Real Life

45.  Establish simple, daily routines for housework and meal preparation. When these tasks become automatic, you can focus your attention on other things.

46.  Do one load of laundry at the same time every day.

47.  Make taco soup in the winter and teriyaki chicken salad in the summer.

48.  Clean out your purse once a week.

49.  Learn to laugh at yourself.

50.

I left the last one blank for you. What’s something you’ve learned or a life hack that you’ve discovered?

I’m linking up today with #DanceWithJesus and #GraceandTruth. Check out these communities for more encouragement.

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