WEverb11 #3: Learn

WEverb11 Prompt #3: Learn

Learn. Learn.  What lesson did you learn in 2011 from “The School of Life” rather than a classroom? Contributed by Julie Jordan Scott [http://www.fivepassions.com]

Well, I guess since I haven't been in a classroom all year, everything I've learned has been from "The School of Life." Or, you know, the internet.

Not one thing in particular sticks out in my mind, so I'm just going to write a short list of some of the things I've learned:

• I've learned some new craft techniques, or made some up myself.

• I've learned lots about living in Raleigh, where the best restaurants are, the best tennis courts, the quickest way to get to downtown, and just in general, learned how to get around.

• I've learned that I can survive summer in the south, as long as I have air conditioning
• I've learned that cats are bad, mkay (this comes after I was just interrupted from writing this post to go catch and release the 2nd baby mole that the cats have brought inside our basement in 2 days)

• I've learned that short-term home decorating is super annoying; on one hand you want your home to be decorated, on the other, when it's only for 1 year, and you don't want to invest too much money or time, it can be really frustrating trying to come up with decor ideas. Luckily, the Command removable hooks have been a lifesaver. Except that one time when they didn't work.
• I've learned all about applying for a home mortgage, and what to expect next year when we're ready to begin the home buying process.
• I've learned that your credit score is kind of a game. Certain things make it go up, certain things make it go down, and it's all about playing the game and having the right balance to get your score to go up. And there's only one legitimate place to get the true credit scores that mortgage lenders will look at (http://www.myfico.com/), all the rest of the places on the internet basically make up their own version of your credit score and get you to pay for it, and so if you're looking to buy a house, these are basically useless. Oh, and if you get pre-approved for a mortgage, don't go out and get a new car, or even a new cell phone plan before you close on the house. Even just getting a new cell phone can ding your credit score 3-8 points, and even if you're pre-approved, the lender will pull your credit one last time at the closing, just to make sure it's still a good score. (I could go on and on about credit scores and applying for mortgages, but it would fill an entire post, so I'll just end this bullet with saying if you happen to be looking to research this stuff too, be very cautious of what you read on the internet. There is a lot of bad, or just plain false-to-get-you-to-pay-for-or-subscribe-to-something info out there. So start your research with the FTC, since you know they are a trusted source of information.
• I've learned to become a slave to calorie counting, but since it is actually working (I've lost 5 pounds since the last week of October, even with Thanksgiving thrown in there), it is worth the time.

• I've learned a very important aspect of fitness is finding something you actually enjoy doing for exercise. Tennis has become my main exercise of choice over the past 6 weeks (two lessons a week, plus playing with my husband 2-3 times a week), and I'm still loving it. Plus, I'm burning 300-350 calories in about an hour!
• I've learned that the older I get, the even more I feel the need to have stuff planned out. I've always been a planner, with travel itineraries, outfits planned out, etc. But after traveling for the week of Thanksgiving with basically no plans for when we got there laid out in advance, I was annoyed and frustrated the whole week. And I had to bring two big suitcases for a 6 day trip (including 7 pairs of shoes), just so I could feel somewhat prepared, clothing-wise, for whatever may happen. I know, this makes me a lame person. But I am also learning that part of getting older is admitting your faults and shortcomings, so you can plan around them (ha! Or maybe my theory is just so I can plan more!).

Ok, well, I probably learned a whole lot more this year, but this list is getting pretty long, so I think I will leave it at this.

What did you learn in 2011?

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