Today I turn 37 (GULP!), a mere three years from the big 4-0! How is it then that inside I still feel like that 18-year-old who went out dancing until the early hours and yet still managed to get to work for 8am fresh-faced and hangover free? Unfortunately, my body has other ideas and at times I feel more like an old lady! I have moments when it suddenly hits me that I am a grown-up, a Mum of three and that my eldest will turn 16 in a matter of months and I wonder how I even got to this point, did I time travel and miss 20+ years of my life?
Despite now officially being able to class myself as OLD one thing I wouldn’t change is the things that I have learnt along the way. Every day we learn something new about ourselves and the world around us which added together help shape who we are and who we will ultimately become. With this in mind I want to share 37 things I have learnt in my 37 years on this beautiful planet. Some are more serious than others, but all have helped make me the person I am today.
- Those closest to us are the people who can hurt us the most
- Don’t drink a whole bottle of vodka before going out, it won’t end well!
- Life is short – make sure you enjoy it
- It’s perfectly acceptable to eat cake for breakfast
- Don’t compare yourself to others- we are all different that’s what makes us special
- Music can always lift your spirits
- You can’t please everyone all of the time
- All you can ever do is try your best
- Always be yourself
- I’m never going to be a size 8 – I like cake too much!
- Never take your health for granted
- Honesty is always the best policy
- Walking home with bare feet after a night out is NEVER a good idea
- Believe in yourself even if others doubt you
- Being a Mum is the hardest yet most rewarding job in the world
- A simple smile has magical powers
- Take risks – you never know what you can achieve unless you do
- Never take anything for granted
- Kids rarely do as they are asked the first million times – just keep asking
- If at first you don’t succeed, keep trying
- Don’t judge a book (or person) by its cover
- When times are hard you realise who your true friends are
- You have no idea how much you can truly love another being until you have children – they are my world
- It’s OK to let go of toxic friendships and relationships
- Having a few genuine friends is much better than having a million acquaintances
- It doesn’t matter how much tidying up you do, when you have kids your house will always have that ‘lived in’ look
- Always talk to someone if you are struggling and need help
- The best things in life are free – bit of a cliché but completely true!
- The housework will still be there tomorrow
- Grab opportunities with both hands they may not come again
- I’m not built for exercise – or that’s my excuse anyway!
- Your mental health is a priority, if you don’t take care of yourself you won’t be able to take care of others
- You never know what’s around the corner, all you can do is embrace today
- If someone asks you to smell their ice cream DON’T
- Do what makes you happy
- You never know what you have until it’s gone
- Birthday Cake has no calories
I’m sure there are thousands more things I have learnt along the way, but that would be quite a lengthy blog post, so I’ll leave it at 37 for now. I’m sure as you read this I will be somewhere stuffing my face with calorie-free Birthday Cake, but I would love to hear about any lessons you have learnt once I have come down from my sugar rush so feel free to share them with me in the comments.
Fraser’s Fun House 
Happy birthday Mel, hope you have a lovely day. I turn 33 this month and many of the things you have listed I have learnt to, especially drinking before I go out haha x And birthday cake definitely does not contain calories
Emma x http://www.bookinggoodread.com
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Thank you Emma 😃 don’t worry I managed to eat plenty of calorie free cake🎂
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Aw, happiest of birthdays, Mel, hope you’re having a lovely day and eating lots of cake! Love this list, especially all the cake related ones. And the housework tip – I’ve been telling myself that since January, haha! xx
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
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Thank you Lisa 😃 I can confirm plenty of cake was consumed and no housework was attempted 😂
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Hehehe I heart your comments about cake. I could totally do this about pizza. hihi. And it made me giggle when I read never go home on bare feet after a night out. That is something I could have totally done as well. Luckily never have though.
http://www.rainbowsdreamcloud.com
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Thanks for reading 😃 I could def swap cake for pizza too!
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Aww happy birthday! I love your list and I agree with almost every single one (except those that I’d never done, hehe). And birthday cake has no calories indeed! Hope you’re having an amazing day! x Ain
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Thank you 😃
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This is such a lovely post, some really great life lessons! 🙂
Happy Birthday!! 🙂
Lainy x https://bookishbitsblogblog.wordpress.com/
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Thank you 😃
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Happy birthday! I hope you have had a great day. Some lovely life lessons and such a great and heart warming post!
Carly xx // http://www.prettystyleofliving.wordpress.com
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Thank you 😃
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Happy birthday!! I love so many of these points, but I think 37 is the most important. Kidding, but I do think it’s the post relevant. I hope you’ve had a lovely day and lots of cake! x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
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Thank you 😃 plenty of cake was eaten and none of it counts bonus!
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Happy birthday and what a great list 🙂 Regarding number 13 – I didn’t stumble home in bare feet after a night out (that’s impressive that you did that), but I once did minus one shoe.
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Thank you 😃 It was a long time ago but it’s a true story! Or more a reminder of how old I am now that this would never happen!
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Hope you had a lovely birthday Melanie! 💖 I loved reading your list, I agree music always boosts my mood too, life is too short and always grab opportunities! He he, birthday cake definitely has no calories, I hope you ate lots! 😄 Fab post lovely 😘 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
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No. 37 speaks to my soul 😂🌟👌
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Love this!! I’m. 37 later this year, and wholeheartedly agree with your list 🙂 x
http://www.mjw.wales
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wow 37!! Going strong haha x
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I’m only 20 but I already know that eating cake for breakfast is perfectly acceptable, and also that birthday cake calories don’t count.. 😂🤷🏼♀️ I’m a strong believer of letting go of toxic relationships as well! 💁🏼♀️
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Happy birthday! I can relate to a lot of these life lessons so well haha!
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Happy belated birthday lovely I hope you had a great day! I love this list of life lessons, especially the lighthearted ones that we’ve all done like drinking that bottle of vodka before a night out and walking home barefoot! I remember coming out of a night club and the police officers shouting at me and my friends to put our shoes back on haha!
Jess // foundationsandfairytales.wordpress.com
xx
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Happy Belated Birthday Melanie, I hope you had a fantastic day! This List is great, so many times i’ve walked home bare footed and ALWAYS regretted it the next day!
I think i’m over the millionth ask of my children to do anything but yet i am still asking, they will do it eventually i guess! haha. Great Post, Thanks for sharing.
Laura xx
http://www.directlylaura.com
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I understand how age can slip up on you. I’m 50, but sometimes I feel like an 18 year old inside a 50 year old body. I like the one about housework.
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