Pros and Cons

I was reading the comments on my blog today and noticed that one of my old dance students had left a comment. I spent a lot of time with these girls. For four years I taught them three or more times a week. I was 21-25 years old and loved being their teacher. They watched me meet and date, and date, and date, and finally get married to my husband and even were there up until my first baby was born. (And I have to tell you ladies, the pack-n-play that you gave me at my surprise baby shower that I still think about, is by FAR the best baby gift ever. I use it EVERYDAY even now and it has criss-crossed the country with us multiple times. So thank you!) Then I moved across the country and here we are about eight years later. I have gotten wedding announcements from a lot of them, which always makes me happy and I try to make it to their weddings if I'm in town. I hear of babies that are born and get Christmas cards. I love these things and it makes me think of all the fun we had and what really amazing young women they were then and are now. So why am I posting about this?

Today I clicked on my student's blog address and was so happy to read about all she is doing. While doing that, I noticed some of my other student's names on her site and clicked on their links. They are mostly in their early twenties now, the age I was when I taught them. It was great to see how they are starting their families, getting their educations, serving missions, traveling, etc. Strangely, I felt this pang. After an hour of laundry and continued thinking I figured out what I was feeling. I feel like I am a lot older than I was eight years ago. In some ways I wish I was 21-25 again. I started thinking of all the great things about being that age. This train of thought made my laundry pile look a little larger and my appetite grew too so I started to try to look on the brighter side of being eight years older than I was eight years ago. Since I'm such a positive kind of gal, tee-hee, I will forgo the cons and focus on the pros.

In dedication to my beautiful students, here is my list of the pros of being 23 and the pros of being 32.

The PROS of being 23.

1- Hello, you all are gorgeous!

2- Your house really does stay clean. ( unless you have a few kids already)

3- Your teeth are white.

4- You have a lot of energy and vivacity.

5- You generally have most of your hair.

6- Stretch marks are few and far between.

7- You can travel fairly easy.

8- You are newlyweds or close to it.

9- Looking at the life ahead may be scary but you feel you have the energy and motivation to face it.

10- You have your whole life ahead of you and a lot of great big choices that you can make.

11- College is AWESOME.

12- Your body parts are all generally in the same place that they were when you were 16. (See #2 for exception to the rule.)

13- You are pretty brave.

14- You are up to date on current music.

15- You are able to spend time with good friends.

16- Cooking is optional and can be very enjoyable.

17- When you go to college football games, you look like you're one of them.

18- You generally burn off more calories than you take in if you run 4-6 miles a day.

The Pros of being 32

1- I've gotten over the shock of those stretch marks and now lovingly embrace them as my own. (I'm sure there are more to come.)

2- Although not newlyweds anymore, my husband and I have found our little niches in each other's lives and days. It's comforting.

3- I'm finding life to not be as scary as it used to be. The unknown in the future is turning into an adventure instead of a trial.

4- Although my hair has changed textures, colors, and thickness, it does generally do what it is told to when I use enough hairspray and mousse.

5- I appreciate the days when I can get dressed up and go out with my hubby.

6- Although I may not burn as many calories as I take in even with running 4-6 miles a day, I appreciate treats and special meals when I eat them.

7- I appreciate a good bra and a good pair of jeans more than 8 years ago. (Although I know that this appreciation will grow exponentially through the years.)

8- My husband really notices when I do my hair.

9- The moisturizers that I thought I needed back then are being put to good use now.

10- I have already carried and delivered three of my children.

11- My husband will be done with his professional training in 3 1/2 years. Wait, I don't think this one really applies here.

12- Husbands who have a little salt in their pepper hair are WAY hot! (Don't be offended Austin. You are not going gray, you are just becoming "seasoned" and therefore more desireable.)

13- Nobody expects me to be bubbly and happy all the time.

14- Crockpots are AWESOME!

15- I'm painfully aware of a lot of the questions that I don't have answers for and how much I don't know about life but this makes me more humble, I think.

16- Sleep is a recreation.

17- My kids are refreshing and challenging.

18- I am a laundry expert.

19- I'm happier now.

20- 32 is still 8 years away from 40.

Love you ladies! Keep me posted on all your happenings! You are really inspiring and I'm glad I had that time with you!