31 in 31

Today is my 31st birthday. I'm not sure why but 31 sounds really strange to me. It's hard to believe my 21st birthday was ten years ago. I remember that three day hangover like it was yesterday. *sigh*

Anyway, as I was comtemplating the fact that I'm now thirty-something, I was trying to think about what I've learned in that time. Because evidently, this is the year I become deep and existential. Riiiiiiight. Let's face it, I'll always spend most of my time in the shallow end of the pool.

But I have learned a little bit. So I give you "Thirty-one Things I've learned in 31 years"...

1. I'm never quite as smart as I'd like to think I am.
2. However, I'm no dummy.
3. Most of my parents advice makes a lot of sense.
4. It's nice to be needed but not by the needy.
5. A good bottle of wine and some good conversation will cure what ails you.
6. When you love someone, tell them.
7. There's a reason The Rio has a three margarita limit.
8. I'll take a funny man over a pretty boy any day of the week.
9. A person who can look you in the eye and lie once will inevitably do it again.
10. Letting go of old hurts is like releasing yourself from self-imposed prison.
11. It's also really hard.
12. Make sure your windows are rolled up all the way when going through a car wash.
13. Sometimes the best thing you can do is speak up.
14. Sometimes the best thing you can do is shut up.
15. Life with an iPod is so much better than life without.
16. AAA is totally worth it.
17. When they tell you to back up your hard drive, do it.
18. No matter how good it sounds at the time, consuming a falafel from the street vendor at 3am after a night of heavy drinking will only lead to bad things.
19. My instincts are almost always right.
20. Being thrown off a horse; going head first over the handlebars of my bike; breaking my arm in three places at the same time. None of these hurt as much as having my heart broken.
21. White wine removes red wine stains quite nicely.
22. The secret to a great apple pie is using Granny Smith and Jonagold.
23. Being responsible about money makes life easier.
24. You may not have control over how someone treats you but you can control how you react.
25. Doing the thing you thought you couldn't do makes you feel like a rock star.
26. Floss regularly.
27. Nothing clears my head like a long run.
28. People who take themselves too seriously are a pain in the ass.
29. My life is better because of the people who love me.
30. I refuse to have regrets.
31. More french toast, please.