#liflessons

1. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laugh at your mistakes.

I went out with my friends Darryl and Matt, walking to get into the truck I completely wiped out and fell. Mind you we didn't even have anything to drink yet! I laughed, wanted to cry, but hell it was funny!!! Darryl said it was the worst snow angel he had ever seen... probably because it was all dirt.

2. Life is too short it to waste it on resentments, bitterness or grudges you’re holding against others.

 There have been people in my life that I choose for so long not speak to. Some of those people I feel it was a good choice and others I realized that it doesn't do anyone good, it was causing me and people I care for more stress. Taught myself to let things go.

3. You don’t have to win every argument and fight. It’s OK to just agree to disagree.

Is it really worth your time to be a know-it-all/shove your opinion/thoughts down other peoples throats because you think your way is the only way? And have people not want to talk to you because they already know how the conversation is going to go with you? No, it's not, I like to hear other peoples points of view, and at the same time hear theirs. Thank God I live in America!!!

4. Make peace with your past - then let it go, and move on.

My past is not perfect. Things out of my control and choices I have made.... Jezzz I look back and think well it happened, no point in hating myself for it-BUT remind myself of what choices I have made and what choices I should not make in the future. This is a quote from the movie The Silver Linings Playbook, I heard it and was like wow, I am not a slut but there are things I have done and do and it is me, I am okay with it and forgive myself for all the crap I have done in the past. 

Tiffany: "I was a slut. There will always be a part of me that is dirty and sloppy, but I like that, just like all the other parts of myself. I can forgive. Can you say the same for yourself, f***er? Can you forgive? Are you capable of that?"

5. Choose to go after what brings you happiness.

Sometimes I think I know what I want, I set my mind on something and I don't stop till I have it, then there are times I have no idea what I am doing or what I should do at all.

6. Don’t compare yourself to others.

I am Brittany Lauren McDonough, I love my green eyes, my dark hair with a touch of gray, and my nice smile. I have worked so hard and not given up to be where I am. This may be a low point in my life but damn I know my life is going to get better and when that happens I will appreciate it even more! Why would I want to be anyone else?

7. It doesn’t really matter what others think about you – just live your own life and be true to who you are.

What I thought other people thought of me used to always bother me, "Oh I don't think they like me?!?!" Don't like me, I don't care anymore, I know who I am and I am not going to worry myself over whoever you are. I have enough gray hairs, as much as I like them I don't want more.

8. Life isn’t always fair – but sometimes good things happen, too!

Bad things have happened in my life that I wish never happen to anyone. Living with my friend Melissa and her son Dylan, our home burned to the ground at 3am, May 21, 2009. The good thing that happend is a week earlier Melissa replaced the fire detector batteries. I am alive today.

9. Try to ignore your feelings – and keep taking the next step.

My heart has definitly ruled over my head before. Sometimes it is so hard to do what it right but in the long run it will be worth it. That is something I am still reminding myself.

10. Ask for what you want.

Doesn't hurt to ask... I hate to ask for help, I stress myself out even at the thought of having to ask for help. Unless it has to do with my truck, I always ask my Grampie Fahey to look at this or at that because I am petrfied of something breaking and costing a fortune, when all along it could have been an easy fix that could have prevented a bigger problem, or it could explode!!! -exagerating lol but you get my point.

11. Don’t suffer in silence – reach out for support.

I love my friends. There have been some that have always been there and listened and gave advice and stood by my side through the good and bad. I have family I know will always and forever be there for me. I would not be here today if it wasn't for them.

12. Everything changes.  

No matter what anyone says, everything does change. It's our choice to adapt to it. I am not a big fan of change, goodness somethings just need to pipe the fuck down!!! But that is a part of life.

13. Be willing to experiment and try something new.

I forgot what it is like to be spontaneous. I was talking to my best friend Amanda from high school and looked back at our past, we did whatever we wanted. So open minded and happy. I love that! I'm working on that again.

14. The most important thing is to love and be loved.

I love people, I know people love me. I also dislike people, some in particular eh just the thought of them makes my nose twitch and my lip curl... I know there are people that have the same and maybe worse reaction at the thought of me but that's when you look back at number seven, and kill those people with kindness and the biggest smile, something I learned from bartending=)

15. Believe that the best is yet to come.

Like I said in number six "This may be a low point in my life but damn I know my life is going to get better and when that happens I'll appreciate it even more!"

I got this list of lessons here