I see a lot of articles such as "20 Things You Should Learn in Your Twenties", or "Your Before 30 Bucket List", etc. Some of them are interesting or even valuable. But when I think about what I really learned in the last decade, or what I should have learned, many of those things didn't make the list.
So here are five things that I found to be important lessons, even if no one put them on some "must have" list.
5. Never take a good casserole dish/platter/nice dinnerware to a boy's house.
This is silly and ancedotal, I know. But just a heads up. My mama and daddy raised a lady who never goes to a person's house empty handed. And I love to cook or bake. So if you're like me, keep this in mind; unless you can bear not seeing that item again, take some gladware. Not your tupperware, not your vintage casserole dish, pyrex, or pretty platter. Because these things get lost, broken, or worse yet, your heart gets broken before you can get it back.
4. How to take a compliment.
Admittedly, I am still kind of bad in this department. Compliment me, and I'm a deer in headlights. But I have gotten better! I've learned to at least say "Thank you" and quickly change the subject. So if you're the type who is self conscious and self deprecating, work on this. No one wants to get into a whole pissing contest about how your eyes are only pretty because of your makeup technique or you're only smart because you're just a hermit who reads a lot. You're just smart. You're just pretty. Deal with it. The more you protest, the more you seem attention seeking and the more you frustrate the complimenter.
3. How to deal with a fuse box.
For the first I don't know, 25 years of my life, I had no clue how to even look at a fuse box. If a fuse went, I would freeze in my tracks and let someone else deal with it. I have no clue what the hell I was so scared of. It is very easy to identify which fuse you need to hit and press the button. Even changing a fuse isn't hard. I realize that you shouldn't try to re-wire your own home for obvious reasons, but a blown fuse is like replacing a lightbulb. I wish I hadn't been so helpless about it for so long, because that's just silly.
2. Parents have the say as long as they have the money.
This isn't something I had to learn myself really, I get along great with my parents and we've always had a really great and open relationship. They've always trusted me, and I was always pretty open with them. They knew my friends and I didn't really get into trouble. But most people don't have that luxury. I hear endless frustrations from my younger friends (and some of my students) about how their parents "boss" them around or just don't understand their choices or preferences. Personally, I do believe everyone should be able to live the life they choose. But until you're able to support yourself financially, your parents get to make the rules. Sorry all you young, frustrated readers out there. But the person who owns the house/pays the bills/feeds/clothes you has the power. Yes, they can set a curfew for you, despite the fact that you haven't slept in your own dorm room all semester.They can ask you to wear a sweater over that dress. We can hope that they will be understanding, fair, and open minded about things, but the reality is that they don't have to be. So if you're over 18, and you don't like it, get a job, move out and start living the life you want to. Otherwise, stop whining, respect your parents and bide your time until you can manage to move out.
1. Google it!
Learn how to research something. It astounds me how unaware people are. I google everything. Don't waste your time (or your friends' and family members' time) by asking everyone under the sun what time the mall opens. Look it up. Or look up their number and call them. With the availability of information and resources we have these days, the excuses people have for "I didn't know" or "No one ever told me" are running very thin. I can promise you, for a lot of the questions I get asked, I go straight to google. I am not some all-knowing, all-seeing wonder. I'm resourceful, which is a valuable skill to have.
So there you have it. My list of things you should learn as a young adult. It's not fashionable or trendy, but I think there are some things that are overlooked or assumed when you reach a certain age, but sometimes you still have to learn these by trial and error and everyone has their own lessons to learn.
I hope everyone is having a great start to the new year!
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