I Wish You Knew...

 by Margie Senechal

I've been thinking about writing down memories for my kids and I keep coming back to this subject for the first chapter. Things I wish someone had told me.

My grandparents never told me how getting old hurts. How body parts you've abused, neglected, and taken for granted start giving out on you. And I was pretty close to my grandparents. I grew up next door to them and really, my grandma wasn't one to mince words. She, by no means, wasn't a lovey-dovey grandma who baked cookies and showered you with hugs and kisses. 

No. She was more like a Disney witch but instead of a wand, she waved around a cigarette with an ash stream longer than the actual cigarette. She hushed you before you got past the door and snarled if you interrupted her 'shows'. I like to think she'd been happy bursting any of delusions of growing old gracefully.

So, here's a few things I'd like to share with anyone younger than me.

Most importantly, take care of your body while you still can. Get out into the fresh air, take a hike, eat better, do a cartwheel. Cartwheel? Yes, a cartwheel. Because one day you'll see a picture of Marcia Cross--in her 50's--doing a cartwheel on the beach and wonder why you stopped doing cartwheels. Not that I was ever good at cartwheels, but I did a passable round-off.

Explore. Explore places. Explore things that interest you. Take a class just because it makes you dream of something more. Read about places and subjects that interest you. Last month I bought a National Geographic special edition about Pirates. Not because I'm going to become one (I sort of wish) but because I want to know more than the Jack Sparrow's of cinema can tell me. And who knows, I might find a story in there somewhere.

Don't be afraid to take chances. Whether it's skydiving (never) or leaving a job without a safety net (yep). If your soul needs it, take the leap. When I left Walgreens in 2014, my soul definitely needed it. Starting over at Burlington and working my way back up restored my faith in me. 

Strive to be happy. Mr. Ray, my 9th grade journalism advisor wrote that in my yearbook. I don't remember any other autographs I got in all my school years, but I do remember that. I'd like to think I'm still following that advice. Find your happy and everything else pretty much settles around you like a soft mist on an early morning.

I'm sure there's many more and maybe I'll do a refresh further down the road, but it's a start. Have a great weekend and share your "wish you knew" with me.