21 Things I Know For Sure (with 37 years of experience)

Today I mark the 58th time the earth has gone around the sun with me on this planet. All that to say this: today's my birthday. My 58th birthday.

It seems I should have, at this point in my life, acquired some wisdom to share. Or I could just write down some random thoughts…

21 Things I Know For Sure About Myself:

1. People always respond best when I'm authentic.
2. I'm much better, smarter, funnier than my inner critic gives me credit for. (I wish she would just SHUT UP sometimes, but that's not important right now.)
3. I will never really enjoy broccoli, no matter how much cheese sauce is on it.
4. A fresh mani/pedi always makes me feel good.
5. No matter what I achieve in life, I'm a thousand times more proud of my kids' accomplishments.
6. Marrying well was the smartest thing I've ever done. (I love you, Eric Darby.)
7. I must have coffee. Every. Day.
8. I don't feel completely dressed unless I am wearing jewelry and lipstick. (Is that a Cuban thing?)
9. I'm fiercely proud of my Cuban heritage and my big, fat, Cuban family.
10. I appreciate my friends immensely.
11. The smell of sofrito (sauteed onions, bell pepper, and garlic) is the most welcoming smell there is.
12. If it's in my power to do something for you, I will.
13. I take pictures every day.
14. I cry at the same parts of the same movies every time. ("I'll take the ring to Mordor. Though I do not know the way…" ~Frodo Baggins)
15. I am always reading 3 or 4 books at a time.
16. It's hard for me to keep quiet sometimes. (Okay. A lot of the time. Shut up.)
17. When I look at young people, I try to imagine what they'll be like when they're old.
18. When I look at old people, I try to imagine them when they were young.
19. I'm super analytical.
20. I live by the following mantra: Food must be delicious.
21. I love social media & technology. I'm glad to be living in this age.

All those things are true about me and I suppose I could write another 37 to get up to 58. But I'm kind of lazy sometimes. Ooops. I guess that one didn't make the list…