32 Lessons I've Learned In 30 Years (with the ages I learned them at)

from various people, artists, and angels in my life—(even a few from myself)

1. Flood the fear. - Great Grammy Josephine, (25)

2. Birds sing when they feel safe. - My dad, (29)

3. It’s OK to yell at the kids on the beach who harass seagulls. They’re hooligans, and deserve to be treated as such. - Great Auntie Barb, (7)

4. Don’t get wasted at your wedding, especially if there’s a hurricane. You’ll walk down the dunes and break your ankle, like I did. - Lori, (12)

5. ABL & AIC: “Always be learning,” and “Ass-in-chair.” - Dr. M, (27)

6. Memorize poems. Memorize whole sections of a book. Recite them to yourself, recite them to others. Words are a celebration. A glorious clash of meaning and connection. Proof that someone, somewhere—lived. - me after Dr. S recited part of Mary Karr’s, “The Liar’s Club,” from memory, (28)

7. Don’t worry about a thing ‘cause every little thing is gonna be alright. - Bob Marley, (5)

8. To be rich is to be healthy. - Dr. Mahmoud, (9)

9. The more you choose to not believe in yourself, the weaker you will become. Don’t wither. Don’t waver. - My mom, (30)

10. Do it live. [Unsure if he meant just go full crash out, but it made me laugh]- My brother, (16)

11. You weren’t put here to make people comfortable. You were put here to make people feel something. Never forget that. - Great Grammy Josephine, (19)

12. If you’re not replaying the last chorus of “I Swear This Time I Mean It” like six times, you’re doing it wrong. - My sister, (17)

13. Everyone should have a file in their house labeled “Top Secret.” It keeps the mystery alive. - My dad’s ex girlfriend who indeed did have a file in her house labeled as such. I do not know what was in it. (I don’t know if I want to know)—(15).

14. Coffee ice cream after supper. COFFE ICE CREAM AFTER SUPPER. - My Grandma, Carol, (6). Coffee ice cream hits hard, though. Not gonna lie.

15. Jimmy Buffett is a staple of this house. So is that barber chair over there. - My Aunt Sue, (20). Any time I question, “Where did I get my eccentricity?” Yup, she and my Auntie Barb definitely have something to do with it. Speaking of Auntie Barb—

16. Be careful what you buy from an antique shop. It might give you cancer. - (14) It didn’t give her cancer, but we are a very spiritual family.

17. You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run. - Don Schlitz, (21).

18. It’s such a good feeling to know you’re alive. - Mr. Rogers, (3).

19. NOPE, I AM DEFINITELY NOT BISEXUAL. - Me, at age 23 after I kissed a man for the first time.

20. I made this for you before I go. - Laura, gifting me a sock puppet a couple months before she died, (11).

21. Learn to swim. Learn to swim. Learn to swim. - TOOL, (18)

22. I called your brother egg, and your sister yolk. But I’m calling you “shell,”—I can see you hold it all together. - Mr. LaPlaca, (8)

23. When you were born, you taught me what happiness means. Not what it is. What it means. - My mom, (0)

24. What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? - Mary Oliver, (24)

25. Lava lamps should NOT be broken. - me, (4)

26. I guess the PlayStation1 wasn’t thirsty. - me, (2) after pouring water on my brother’s brand new gaming system

27. There’s nothing sadder in the world than children’s funerals. Your strength scares me sometimes. - My dad, (10)

28. Full joy. Not en-joy. Full joy. - Fiyah, Rastafari—(26)

29. I write because it frees me. - Uncle Dick, (12)

30. We make plans, and God laughs. - Great Grammy Josephine (13)

31. Cake is life. - me at my 1st birthday, probably.

32. Failure is never failure. It’s perspective. - My psych prof, (22)