01.26 Nice is the New Black: Is 2012 the End of the World Or Just My 20′s?

Whether you are building a bomb shelter because of the Mayan calendar’s predictions or are simply hoping that 2012 isn’t any worse than 2011, every year holds endings as well as beginnings.

For me, my last twenty-something birthday is this upcoming February, which is dangerously close to Valentines Day. And with Cupid on my calendar back-to -back with my “black” birthday, I sometimes wonder where a bow and arrow is when you need one?

Don’t worry, this isn’t some “down with love” anti-Valentine’s blog. I know that for some a shellacked, candy-coated holiday is a welcomed interruption during the dreary months of mid-winter. For others, it is synonymous with Passover (you secretly hope you can just paint your doorstep with the blood of a medium rare lamb-shank to forgo the whole ordeal).

Whether your Valentine’s Day giddiness (or god-awfulness) will materialize in caloric liberties, sappy Jennifer Aniston rom-com marathons, or a dozen or so red-letter excuses to order that expensive bottle of Bordeaux; it does mark the passing of another year. And that means trying on one more year older for size.

For other 80′s babies like myself, I will not lament about the drudgery of getting “old”. I am not one of those hair-flipping, flip-flops-in-the-winter via P.I.N.K sweatpants girls who can’t see the unmistakable beauty found in those that are over 21.

Truth be told, if there is anyone that I am enamored during this month of love, it is those women I know who have aged with grace. I am not talking about the women who use the highest-end wrinkle creams or can give me the name of their favorite Botox bar. I am talking about women who have truly allowed age to mature them. Those who have allowed another year to round their rough edges to a create a kinder and more understanding way to deal with those around them.

Here are a few things that I have learned from those women as well as a few anecdotes I have learned myself:

1. Worry less about what you’re wearing and more about how people truly see you.

2. Don’t talk to hear your own voice, speak to let others know you have heard them.

3. Look both ways before crossing off a friend, the blame may lie on your side of the street.

4. Forgive more than you ever thought possible.

5. Don’t trust any man that flat irons his hair.

6. If you want a cure for selfishness, have a baby.

7. Invite the unexpected into your life. This includes strangers and those who are simply strange.

8. Church isn’t just for grandmothers.

9. Getting married is like getting divorced, you have to be willing to divide the person you are to make room for the person you need to be.

10. Stop judging people, this isn’t the Olympics.

11. Give yourself liberty to enjoy things like butter and pizza, life gets better once you do.

12. Move someplace where you don’t know anyone if you really want to learn who you are.

13. Say that it is your fault when it is.

14. Never leave a parked car running overnight.

15. There is no shame in crying, only in crying wolf.

Feel free to add some tidbits of your own wisdom to this list. Ultimately, 2012 is no where near the end of the world, whether you are turning 18 or 88. Instead, it is just another spans of passing time where we can learn how to be a better version of the people we are already becoming.

Megan Munroe

Author, actress, singer-songwriter and model, Megan has successfully gotten to where she wanted to go by creating relationship bridges instead of burning them down. The Founder of the Nice Girls Rule Movement and Author of “Bitch? Please! How Nice Girls Can Succeed in a Bitch’s World”, she hopes to help those who wants to get ahead without leaving their integrity behind. For more information visit: www.meganmunroeauthor.com or visit www.nicegirlsrule.blogspot.com

* This post is from a Girl Power Hour featured blogger. It is not written, edited or endorsed by Girl Power Hour. The authors are solely responsible for content.

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