If you had to sum up your life philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?

🍷 LIFE ACCORDING TO CHRISTY: HOLD MY WINE, I’VE GOT THIS! 😂🥂

Today’s Blog Question: If I Had to Sum Up My Life Philosophy in One Sentence, What Would It Be?

Well, heavens to Betsy Ross!!! 😂

ONE SENTENCE?! Are you freaking kidding me?!

Have you MET ME?! Have you ever heard me tell a story?! I can’t even tell someone what I had for breakfast without giving them the history of the restaurant, what the waitress was wearing, what the people at the next table were discussing, and how I somehow ended up in a conversation with a complete stranger who now knows my entire family tree! 🤣

And you want me to sum up my entire LIFE PHILOSOPHY in ONE SENTENCE?!

Bless your heart. You’re asking the wrong woman! 😂

But since you asked, here goes…

“Life is too short to be miserable, so laugh until you pee your pants, love like there’s no tomorrow, travel whenever you can, drink the good wine, mind your own business, don’t sweat what you can’t control, take the dang chances, make unforgettable memories, and for heaven’s sake, LIVE YOUR LIFE!” 🍷✈️❤️😂

BOOM!!! 💥

There you have it!

One sentence! A rather LONG, grammatically questionable, possibly illegal run-on sentence, but ONE SENTENCE nonetheless!

My former English teachers might need medical attention after reading that masterpiece. And considering I have a master’s degree in education, I probably ought to know better!

But WHO’S COUNTING?! 🤷‍♀️🤣

Now, let me elaborate. Because you KNOW I can’t just leave it at that!

First of all, LIFE IS TOO FREAKING SHORT TO BE UNHAPPY!

I’m not saying every day is going to be sunshine, rainbows, unicorns, and pineapple mimosas served by a handsome bartender on a cruise ship. 🍍🥂

Although, GOOD LORD, wouldn’t that be fabulous?!

Some days you’re the queen of the castle, and other days you’re standing in the middle of the kitchen wondering why you walked in there in the first place.

And then you open the refrigerator, stare inside like the meaning of life is hiding behind the cheese, close the door, walk away, and remember absolutely NOTHING!

Welcome to midlife, people! 😂

Second, STOP WORRYING ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN’T CONTROL!

Seriously!

You can’t control the weather, other people’s opinions, the stock market, your ex-husband, the price of groceries, or whether some idiot decides to drive 35 miles per hour in the passing lane!

You CAN control how you react!

Well…most of the time.

Because that person driving 35 in the passing lane is REALLY testing my Christian upbringing! 🙏🤣

And don’t even get me started on people who create unnecessary drama!

Honey, if I wanted drama, I’d turn on a soap opera, grab a glass of Cabernet, and watch somebody discover that their husband is actually their long-lost cousin’s evil twin brother who just came out of a coma after 27 years!

I DO NOT NEED TO BE A CAST MEMBER IN YOUR PERSONAL REALITY SHOW!

Next!

TAKE THE TRIP! BUY THE TICKET! GET ON THE PLANE! BOARD THE SHIP!

GO!!!

I don’t care if it’s a weekend at the beach, a trip to Europe, a cruise through the Caribbean, or an adventure where you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing!

Some of my greatest memories have come from situations where I probably should’ve had a little more information BEFORE I agreed to participate! 😂

But that’s what makes life interesting!

And I believe in collecting memories, not regrets.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Use your noodle! Don’t follow some stranger down a dark alley because he promises you a genuine designer handbag for $47.99!

That’s not an adventure. That’s the beginning of a Dateline episode!

And I have absolutely NO DESIRE for Keith Morrison to be narrating my last known whereabouts! 🤣

LOVE BIG, BUT DON’T BE STUPID! ❤️

Love your family. Love your friends. Love your pets. Love the people who genuinely love you back.

And if someone comes into your life who makes you smile like a teenage girl with her first crush, well, enjoy those butterflies!

But remember, butterflies are supposed to be in your stomach, NOT warning signs flying around your head like a flock of angry pigeons!

I’ve learned that love is wonderful, but so is PEACE!

And if somebody disrupts my peace, my happiness, or my ability to enjoy a perfectly good glass of Malbec, we might have ourselves a situation!

Because at this age, I am NOT auditioning for a starring role in The Young and the Restless: The Menopause Years! 😂🍷

LAUGH AT YOURSELF!

Good gracious, I do this DAILY!

If I didn’t laugh at myself, I’d probably need a full-time therapist, a personal assistant, and possibly a court-appointed supervisor!

I’ve made mistakes. I’ve said things I probably shouldn’t have said. I’ve done things that sounded like excellent ideas at the time.

And I’ve had moments where I thought, “Christy, WHAT IN THE ACTUAL HECK WERE YOU THINKING?!”

But you know what?!

Those usually turn into the BEST stories!

And thank goodness for pictures and videos because I believe in DOCUMENTATION!

I want receipts!

PHOTO RECEIPTS! VIDEO RECEIPTS! GOOGLE RECEIPTS!

Because if somebody says, “That never happened,” I want to be able to pull out my phone like an attorney presenting Exhibit A in a murder trial!

YOUR HONOR, I HAVE EVIDENCE! 📱🤣

BE KIND, BUT DON’T BE A DOORMAT!

Treat people the way you want to be treated.

Open doors. Help strangers. Check on your friends. Tell people you love them. Forgive when you can.

But don’t mistake my kindness for stupidity.

I can be sweet as a Georgia peach, but I also have enough Southern sass to season an entire Thanksgiving dinner!

And remember, forgiving someone doesn’t mean you have to invite them back into your life, give them a house key, and serve them Sunday lunch!

Some doors are better left CLOSED!

LOCKED!

DEADBOLTED!

WITH A SECURITY CAMERA INSTALLED! 😂

And finally…

ENJOY THE LITTLE THINGS!

A beautiful sunset.

The sound of waves crashing on the beach.

A glass of red wine on the pier.

A great song that makes you dance around the kitchen like you’re performing at Madison Square Garden.

A phone call from someone you love.

A hug from your grandchildren.

A good laugh with friends that leaves your stomach hurting and your mascara running down your face!

Those are the things that matter.

Not how much money you have, what kind of car you drive, how big your house is, or how many people like your Facebook posts.

Although, if you’re reading this, feel free to LIKE IT! I’m not above a little social media validation! 🤣

At the end of the day, I’ve lived long enough to realize that life doesn’t always go according to plan.

Sometimes you get the fairy tale.

Sometimes you get Beetlejuice.

Sometimes you get a beautiful Caribbean sunset.

And sometimes you get lost in the Windjammer buffet on a cruise ship while trying to find your own family!

IT’S CALLED BALANCE, PEOPLE! 😂🚢

But I wouldn’t trade all the crazy, beautiful, heartbreaking, hilarious, unpredictable chapters of my life because every single one has helped make me who I am today.

A slightly unfiltered, wine-loving, adventure-seeking, occasionally forgetful Southern woman who still believes the best chapters haven’t been written yet!

So, here’s my final philosophy:

LIVE BIG. LOVE HARD. LAUGH LOUD. FORGIVE OFTEN. TAKE CHANCES. MAKE MEMORIES. DRINK THE GOOD WINE. AND NEVER, EVER LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR JOY! ❤️🍷

Because none of us knows how many tomorrows we’re going to get.

And when my time on this earth is finally up, I don’t want people standing around saying, “Well, she sure played it safe.”

HEAVENS TO BETSY ROSS, NO!!!

I want them saying…

“GOOD LORD! THAT WOMAN REALLY LIVED! AND WE’RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW SHE GOT AWAY WITH HALF OF IT!” 🤣🤣🤣

And somebody PLEASE make sure there’s a good bottle of Cabernet at my celebration of life!

Not that cheap stuff, either!

I’ve got standards, even in the afterlife! 🍷😂

YOLO! CARPE DIEM! AND FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE, HUG IT OUT! ❤️🥂

Love, Christy — Unfiltered, Unsupervised, and Still Collecting Stories I Probably Shouldn’t Share! 😂🍷✈️