RemembeRED: Lesson Learned

Write a post that either starts or ends with the words "Lesson learned." Word limit: 400 words.

Some life lessons take a while to germinate. It can take years for the moral of the story to come to fruition. When I was in my twenties, for example, I knew everything. I was a college student. If someone had a question, I always knew the answer and I would tell them so. If someone needed advice, I always knew exactly what to do and I was always very sure of my answers. I was never, ever, without some kind of answer for anything and everything.

When I was in my thirties, I knew some things. I was a professional. If someone had a question, I sometimes knew the answer, and if I didn't, I would pretend that I did. If someone needed advice, I sometimes knew what to do and wasn't really sure of my answers. I occasionally had some kind of answer for most things.

Now I am in my forties, and I don't know anything. I am the parent of a three-year-old. If someone has a question, I have no idea what the answer is and I will tell them so. If someone needs advice, I stare at them blankly until they go away. I never have the answer to anything, and even have difficulty remembering the questions.

It turns out that when you don't know, you can enjoy the journey a whole lot more.

Lesson learned.