7 Lessons I've Learned Since High School

It always amazes me when adults tell  high school students that those are "the best years of their life." Really? What exactly did they do after high school? I enjoyed high school well enough but you couldn't pay me to go back and do it again. College was much better but this life here- I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

photo courtesy of iosphere/freedigitalphotos.net

Life gets better as you age if you are following Jesus. I'm not talking about circumstances; life usually has more problems and difficulties. But as a person, on the inside, life can get better. 

Here are a few things I've learned since high school. 

1. No one is quite as critical of you as you are of yourself. That's because nobody pays that much attention to you. They don't know what you wanted your hair to look like or that you don't like how your shirt fits. Most likely, people just don't care. They are too busy obsessing about how their hair looks. (And this is just in general. There will always be those who take the the job of critic but don't worry about them. They won't approve of you if you look like Miss America and win the Nobel Prize.)

2. Living in obedience creates confidence. Of course if you're making up your own ideas as a twenty-something year old, you will be uncertain. What do you know? But if you are trying to follow the principles of the Bible you are building on a firm foundation. Those are God's way. They don't need to be defended. Just do them. 

3. You don't have to impress anybody. And it's better to not even try.  How on earth do you know what will impress someone? If you are trying to impress people you will be the most wishy-washy person around. You will scope out their viewpoints and then change to please them. Don't even bother. Please God. Please your husband (if you have one.) Don't worry about anybody else. 

4. It's ok to be different. It's ok to be different from your classmates, your teammates, your co-workers. It's right to be different in the big things if they don't believe the Bible. Stand on truth.  And it's perfectly fine to be different in the small things even if you agree about the big things. You like music? Like music. Don't worry about whether or not your friends like music. You like to write? Don't worry about whether or not your co-workers even like to read. You like sports? Like sports. Be you. 

5. It's ok to be the same. I have some friends now that I have a lot in common with. And that's great. I don't have to make sure everyone notices me by pulling weird stunts to stand out. 

6. Life is a competition with yourself; not others. This isn't always true in school or even on the job. But it is as a stay-at-home mom. And it will help your competition with others if you are competing with yourself first.  I don't need to worry about whether I'm better than my friends. Am I better than I was yesterday? 

7. Give it your all. Other people will hate you for it. They will dislike you for loving God. They will dislike you for working hard, for being an engaged mother, for loving your husband, for taking care of your home, for developing your talents, for not making excuses.  Give it your all anyway. Life is certainly not a popularity contest. 

What about you? What have you learned since high school?