Five Things Meme

Today's meme is Five Things I Want My Kids to Know (Before They Grow Up). I had a massive list and tried to choose five that were somewhat more interesting and not the ones everyone thinks of, like "Always Wear Clean/Nice Underwear." Though people, it's true. It's part of Murphy's Law: the one day you grab that ratty pair of grey-not-because-that's-the-real-color underpants off the top of the pile is the day something will require you to strip down or be stripped down to said underwear. Or someone will pants you.

1. Whoever said "Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you" was an idiot. Physical pain is ephemeral. Bruises fade. Bones heal. Words can inflict the kind of injury that bleeds for decades.

2. Just because someone says something is "cool" or "uncool" doesn't make it true. Sometimes you just have to be the rebel who goes against the flow. Besides, it's the rebels and mavericks who end up making things cool in the end anyhow. James Dean? Bill Gates? Cleopatra? Indiana Jones? Oh yeah.

3. Freedom and Security (a.k.a. "Safety") are often mutually exclusive. To have the one, the other often has to be set aside. The politics of the last many decades have misled people all over the world about this one. And it says a lot about a person to see which they choose.

4. Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it's safe or even good for you. Cyanide is natural. So is salmonella.

5. Don't forget to say "I love you." Say it with as much meaning and sincerity as the words deserve, say it often, and say it to everyone you love--family and friends alike. You never know when they need to hear it the most or when it might be the last time.

And now I'm tagging five people who will no doubt do this with far more humor than I did:

1. Katy at Treasured Chapters

2. Veronica at Toddled Dredge

3. Beck at Frog and Toad Are Still Friends

4. Fiddledeedee at Fiddledeedee

5. Sweatpantsmom at Sweatpantsmom

Have fun!