"I hope my best years are when I'm 80"

I've been thinking a lot lately (being unemployed leaves you with a lot of time to think), about where my life is headed and "what will I be doing in five years, months, weeks ... hell, what will I be doing in five days?" And it's made me think about something you hear a lot when you're in high school and then sometimes again in college. I'm talking about the phrase "these are the best years of your life." I remember hearing that once when I was in high school and thinking

"SHIT, really? I'm 18. Is this REALLY as good as my life is going to get?"

Like, for real:

• Who really believes that?
• Do people really believe that?
• If not, why do they say it?
• If so, what in the WORLD are they going to do for the next 40-60 (or however many) years?

Are things like homecoming and prom supposed to be better than your wedding day? Or better than the day your first child is born? Or better than the feeling of owning your own home? I HOPE NOT! What about having a curfew? I don't know about you guys, but I had an early curfew. Know what happened as soon as I started college? My curfew went away. That's certainly an improvement. I would love to hear someone's argument about how the time when I had a curfew and had to go to prom was better than the life I live now. I just don't think it's a debate I would lose.

So, these thoughts have lead to a sub thought-process about people I know who are stuck living exactly the same way they did when they were in high school. I come from a small community and I think anyone from a small community knows people like this. I'm talking about the people who have never made friends outside of the ones they have had their whole lives, or at least since high school. The people who will NEVER change or grow or expand their knowledge, even if they are some of the smartest people you know. I don't want anyone to get confused and think I'm saying it's bad when people want to stay in the town they grew up in, that's not at all what I'm saying. I'm saying: Try new things. Expand what you know. MEET NEW PEOPLE. I've known one of my best friends since preschool, another since about 1st grade, two since 8th grade and one since early in high school; I believe it's OK to keep your friends, I'm just saying - don't forget about the other BILLIONS of people in the world. I met a guy the other day who said it was his goal for next year to meet as many new friends as possible. And, I like his style. I like it a lot.

I think I will make another vow now. One to go along with my vow to smile more and just try to be a happier person. I believe I do a pretty good job at meeting new people. I can make friends pretty much anywhere, so, I vow to live each day like it is bound to be better than the one before it. I hope my best years are when I'm 80. I want the rest of my years to be great, but I want something to look forward to. Something to keep me going. And I have a pretty great life now, so if it just keeps getting better, I'll be a pretty lucky girl.

xoxo! try it with me ;)

ps. If you don't meet people well, you should try that too. I know a lot of cool people and it's awesome!