Why 28 is great...

This past weekend I turned 28 and my one of my younger sisters turned 18.

And it really got me thinking...

What a difference 10 years makes.

Her adventures are just starting

and while I am settling down starting a family.

But it's all that time from 18-28 that makes all the difference.

If I could go back and tell myself anything at the age of 18 it would be the phrase above.

Live your life and live it to the fullest.

You never know when you are gonna meet "the one"

You never know where you are going to end up

You think you know

but you don't...

How to feel great by 28

Laugh a lot cause life is hard sometimes...

Don't be afraid to get lost in a big city all by yourself, somewhere there is limo that will pick you up and take you where you need to be...

Dance when you get the chance, even if it is 4 in the morning in a Turkish restaurant with napkins or in a bar in Austria all by yourself to Dancing Queen...

Don't be afraid to talk to the American boy on the train to Venice- he could be the one to save you from the creepy Austrian guy trying to cop a feel...

Kiss someone in the rain it is magical {even if he turns out to be a loser}...

Fall in love with the wrong guy it will teach you what you really want...

Don't be afraid to do things alone, see a movie, eat out, or even shopping because if you can't enjoy your own company- who else will?

Go on a trip with your mom where you can quote French Kiss, drink coke, and hit on gondola men- and never step foot in a museum...

Don't date a boy who tries to change who you are- whether it is how you dress or what you do for a living- if he doesn't want mommy and daddy to meet "the nanny" then you don't want to meet mommy and daddy {no matter how big their house in the Hampton's is}..

Don't be afraid to move somewhere near or far- you can always go back home but you won't always be able to  move...

Don't go to Croatia with a guy you just met- not even I was that stupid and naive- trust your gut when it comes to reading situations...

Don't be afraid to be different or stand out- college is not the way for everyone and despite what people will tell you it will turn out fine as long as you are determined to be successful and happy...

Learn from those who are older then you- this includes parents- right now you think you know better then everyone but you will soon look back and realize you really knew nothing...

Don't be afraid to be bored.  Life won't always be this pace.  I never believed my mother on this one but it is sooooo true.  Enjoy it because you will not be bored for a long time after you get married and have babies...

Learn how to read a map a girl shouldn't need a guy just to get somewhere...

Don't look the other way when you run into "that guy from high school"  he could just turn out to be "the one"...

Know that at 18 you don't have to have it all figured out - there are adventures to be had and mistakes to be made...

So for those of you just starting out on these years 

take a deep breath and jump

because these are the years that make you who you are

they take you to where you need to be

and if you aren't up for the ride 

who knows where you will end up instead...

There were plenty of times that I just wanted to hit the fast forward button

but I would have missed so much if I had

and now I am so glad I had to get out there and live

because let me tell you

IT WAS FUN!

and I look back on those years 

as the best years

and they make turning 28 so much sweeter

because there are no 

woulda,

shoulda,

coulda,

Just memories- good and bad 

that have brought me to this moment

and I can now look back

&

 enjoy the journey

it took to get to 

28