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9 Things I’m Glad I Know

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Your comments to last week’s 9 Things I Wish I Didn’t Know knocked me off my feet. They were thoughtful and touching, and many really struck a chord with me.

Now it’s time for 9 Things I’m Glad I Know. Maybe the two lists can complement each other, like pairs of shoes, bra cups, or yin and yang!

9 Things I’m Glad I Know

  1. How to tweeze my brows and wax my ‘stache. You’d be looking at the sasquatch of beauty bloggers if it weren’t for hair removal, LOL! 

  2. How to read music. I no longer play *any* of the five instruments I once could (seriously, I was a one woman band! — piano, flute, piccolo, French horn and trumpet), but music is still and always will be a huge part of my life. What’s going to be instrument number six? Definitely the accordion. Fo’ reals. And El Hub is *not* happy about it. 

  3. How to follow my instincts. I learned long ago to listen to that little voice. When I was a kid, I was waiting for the bus after school one day when a car with two men inside pulled up to the curb beside me. The man in the passenger seat called out the window for me to help him point out a street on the map he was holding in his lap. As I walked toward the car, something in my gut stopped me dead in my tracks; I looked into the man’s eyes and realized something was “off.” I knew that if I took one single step closer, something terrible would happen, so I ran away as fast as I could. I still remember the crunchy sound my shoes made on the gravel under my feet as I sprinted to a nearby gas station, and I can still hear the sound of that car speeding off behind me. 

  4. How to really listen.

  5. Distance running. It’s so cheesy, but distance running taught me so many things about life, like how to push myself beyond my limits, and how important it is to own a shirt that wicks. Even though my knees and feet are shot to shizz now, I’m still grateful to have known what it feels like to run for miles and miles, my feet flying across the pavement, adrenaline coursing through my veins! 

  6. Hard work.

  7. How good it feels to be useful. Shoot, I can’t do calculus or play basketball (or any sport involving projectiles), but at least I’m not a bump on a pickle. 

  8. Love.

  9. Sadness. I realize how strange it may sound to be glad to know what sadness feels like, but grief and loss have helped me better appreciate life’s simple pleasures, like sleeping in on a Sunday or playing with makeup.

Do you have a list like this one? Are there things in your life you’re glad to know?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Comments

  2. Wohoo! We could be an orchestra together 😉 You’re the wind instruments and me the string instruments. Now I only need to learn the double bass.. lol
    Why doesn’t your hubby like it? My mum doesn’t like it as well so I won’t tell her for a couple of years that I intend to learn diatonic accordion. hehe

    Karen B’s last blog post..Drabble: Reverie

    Reply

  5. Hmm sure this will be a good one. I love that you get us thinkin Karen – we’re not just shallow good looking women!! lol

    -I’m glad I know how strong I can be
    -How to speak 2 languages
    -That I do NOT need to be with someone to feel good about myself in any sort of way
    -Love in all of the different levels and forms it comes in.
    -What bad shoes are and how to make sure I’m not caught dead in em’!
    -What looks good on me and what doesn’t
    -That I can be intimidating to people but choose to be nice…most of the time
    -How to put on eyeliner without giving away that my eyes are differently shaped!
    -That I have go to people that I can count on in the most difficult situations

    Yay that really DOES brighten up your day. Aww I feel better now. Thank ya mrs karen!

    Reply

  6. Heya Karen! You know what? Your blog always cheers me up and it’s the first I always read in the mornings! You rock, darls!

    My 9 things I’m Glad I Know:

    1. Unconditional love from my parents – God knows I’ve done a few things I’m not too proud about in my life, but my parents have always made me know that they’re with me, like it or not.
    2. My grandaunt who took care of me while my parents worked. She is the most wonderful, patient and loving lady (besides Mum!) I know, and she will always have a special place in my heart.
    3. I have real friends whom I can turn to anytime.
    4. How it feels to be physically healthy and strong. And the amazing feeling of the rush of endorphins after working out.
    5. That I am in control of my own happiness and that no one can make me angry if I choose not to be. Happiness is a choice.
    6. The joy that a pet can give without even saying a word. My golden retriever died last year and not being able to comfort her during her last few moments tore my heart. But I would not give up my memories I have with her for anything else.
    7. What a great pair of jeans can do!
    8. Cuddling up with my husband. It just feels so right.
    9. How it is like to laugh til your belly hurts!

    Karen, your blog never fails to remind me what’s really important in life! You just did it again with this post 🙂

    Enjoy your weekend!

    Reply

  7. Love your list! Here’s mine:

    I’m glad I know

    1. How to color-coordinate my outfits
    2. How to use makeup (I don’t use much but without it I’d look awful)
    3. What it’s like to have a crush on someone (I’ve never been in a relationship but the feeling of a crush is wonderful)
    4. I am the only person to make me happy, no one else won’t do it.
    5. It’s great to be single and free.
    6. How happy I can make people just by helping them and being myself.
    7. I have people whom I can trust and count on.
    8. That there are great people in this world despite all the bad things going on. Not everyone is evil! You just have to find the right people for you.
    9. What it’s like to be healthy after being sick. You feel like reborn.
    10. How happy the small things in life can make you.

    Thanks for your post! Always a pleasure to read your blog. 🙂

    Aleks’s last blog post..Jill Scott / Spring Summer Feeling

    Reply

  8. A fellow band girl! I used to play clarinet, alto sax, bass clarinet, flute, various percussion, french horn and piano. Now I’m trying to learn guitar (but so far the furthest I’ve gone is Guitar Hero…two totally different things, hahaha). But I totally agree being able to read music is pretty rad, my mom is/has/was always amazed by that 🙂

    Tanya’s last blog post..Holy NARS!!!

    Reply

  9. A few things I’m glad I know…

    1) The feeling when a warm, soft cat purrs against your body!
    2) The taste of chocolate (yeah, it’s always chocolate with me!)
    3) My kids
    4) The comfort of being held in the arms of someone you love
    5) The feeling of not being helpless
    6) How fantastic, funny and warm people are capable of being!
    7) Chemistry. I worked hard for that!
    8) How to type. Thanks dad! 😛
    9) The fact that you’re going to learn to play accordion! Love it! 😀
    10) The fact that this list could keep going on and on….

    Have a great Friday!

    Reply

  10. How funny! I didn’t realize that an “8” followed by a “)” makes 8) ! I just learned something new!

    Oh, and BTW, all you instrument-playin’ girls totally rock! I just sing, because I never had the patience to learn an instrument!

    Reply

  11. Hi Eru,

    I was a total band nerd. 🙂 I love the accordion, especially when it plays sad songs. El Hub thinks it’s kind of whiney sounding, and I think he’s weirded out by the fact that I’ve been obsessed with it for years. There is this thing that they have in the Bay Area every year called “The Accordion Festival” where a whole bunch of people meet to celebrate the accordion (LOL) and it’s fantastic. I went a few years ago and it was a blast. I almost bought one while I was there but alas, it was not meant to be.

    Reply

  12. Hi Karen B.,

    I don’t think El Hub likes how it sounds. I think he’s nuts though, because accordions sound so pretty and almost emotional to me. And seriously… how can you not love a girl that plays accordion. That’s so hot!

    Anyway, what string instruments do you play? I would really love to learn how to play the cello some day.

    It’s probably a good idea not to tell your mum you want to learn how to accordion. Just show up one day, bust it out and then start playing her favorite song!

    Reply

  14. OMG Jennifer,

    Maybe these two dudes were cruising the Bay Area! That’s so frightening. I am glad you didn’t get near that car!

    Listen to your instincts, ladies!

    Reply

  15. Hi Breezy,

    You are welcome, sweetie! I love your list, especially your last one. I have to remember to do that more often.

    I wish I could speak two languages. I can understand two (English and my parents’ language, Tagalog). Does that count?

    Hope you are having a good Friday!

    Reply

  16. Hi Elle,

    Thanks girl! I am glad I can put a smile on your face. Your list spoke to me; especially #5. 🙂 I am choosing to be happy today, too.

    I am sorry for the loss of your dog. My childhood dog, a black lab named Bell, died a few years ago and it still tugs at my heart when I think about him.

    Have a good day and keep smiling!

    Reply

  17. Hi Aleks,

    Hey girlfriend! You are welcome. 🙂 This is a great list and it really sounds like you have a fantastic support system of people in your life that you can really count on! I really like your #6. I will have to borrow that one for my list!

    Reply

  18. Hi Tanya,

    Girl… I was a total band geek to the nth degree. I’m talking uniforms and marching on a field in unison geeky, LOL. Aye!

    I tried reed instruments a few times but it just wasn’t my thing. Do you have a favorite instrument you like to play?

    Reply

  20. Hi Glosslizard,

    LOL, I got all happy when I figured that one out, too.

    I didn’t know you sang! I’m guessing your a soprano?

    It’s weird, I’ve known how to read music since I was 4, so it’s kind of like I always knew how to do it, and now I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know how.

    Reply

  21. Nine things I’m Glad I know!

    1) In University, there is no homework. The teachers will also not tell you what pages to read by such-and-such a day. In this strange new world that is NOTHING like high school, you have to do something called “self directed learning.” *slaps the dazed first year students across the face* Look at your course outline! Read the textbook!(seriously, my first year of U I didn’t open my books until after the midterm because the teacher didn’t tell me to. Holy failure of highschool teaching someone lifeskills Batman.)

    2) That I’m a NC15.

    3) What its like to have your soulmate on one side of you and a kitten on the other.

    4) How to use pepper spray.

    5) How to cook edible meals.

    6) That I’m a very tough cookie.

    7) Most people don’t know what they’re doing either.

    8) In Warcraft, if you’re a hunter you should dismiss your pet before jumping over a cliff.

    9) You should not aggrivate a skunk

    Reply

  22. 9 things I am glad I know
    1. How to be self sufficient – My Dad always stressed going to college and being able to completely support yourself. He said once you can do that you know you will always be ok and if you get married it’s all for love because if things go bad you don’t have to worry about how you will survive. I think thats why I have such a great husband because I was in it all for love.

    2. How to love unconditionally

    3. How to weight train women can be beautiful and strong inside and out!!

    4. How to care for a pet – my life has always been filled with kitty cats – gotta love them.

    5. How to pick a good wine

    6. How to relax

    7. How to still pretend and play with my nieces and nephews

    8. how the ocean sounds and feels..

    Have a great weekend!!!I have a ton of work in the yard to do and gotta make to the gym tommorrow.

    Reply

  23. I used to play the piano too! That’s an Asian thing, I think. Now I don’t know how to read notes anymore but one day I hope to get myself a piano and learn how to play again.

    Reply

  24. OMG!
    you play the same instruments as me! except I play the flute, piccolo, trumpet, piano, french horn, and mellophone.

    Reply

  25. Hi Tekoa,

    Oh boy! It took me a while to figure out #1 too. I felt ill prepared those first few months of college.

    Ahhh, I hope to one day know #3 with a kitten that’s all my own and not on loan…

    Reply

  26. Hi Victoria,

    I didn’t know you liked to lift weights. I love it! I didn’t used to, though…those first months were tough. But now, I love the fact that I can do *real* push ups!

    You have a good weekend too!

    Reply

  27. Hi Dao,

    I suspect it is, LOL. Almost all my Asian friends at one point in time were subject to piano lessons. I hope you get yours sooner than later! 🙂 One of these days I’ll have a baby grand in my house. *drools*

    Reply

  28. Hi Stina,

    OMG! We’re instrument twins! Okay, I actually played mellophone but wrote French horn instead because only hard core band geeks know what it is! Were you in marching band?

    Reply

  29. First I thought, wow a list. I love participating in list but when I read your number three I cried. Thank God for the intuition that was in you even as a child and thank God that you listened. Shame on you, you made me cry…

    Reply

  30. I don’t really have a favorite chocolate (one that’s within reach! Ha!) but I can’t deal with “drugstore” chocolates (Whitman’s and the like). Guittard rocks, Lindt is superb and I keep a stash of Scharffen Berger bars from TJ’s on top of the fridge!

    I am a soprano! You’re goooood! 🙂

    I learned to read music in choir in high school, so it’s not as second nature to me, but I learned pretty fast and can still get the gist of a piece by looking!

    I wish I spoke another language too! I can speak “Spanglish” although in my case it’s not Spanish/English, it’s more like Mangled Spanish! LOL!

    Reply

  31. Great post Karen!

    9 things I’m glad I know:
    1 – That the most important things in life are not things but people. Your family and true friends will catch you when you fall and will lift you even higher when you are on top of the world.
    2 – That true beauty has more to do with mind, character and personality than any outward appearance.
    3 – The joy of helping others and contributing to the world and community around me.
    4 – That the only way for me to be happy is to know myself well and the only way to know myself well is self-reflection.
    5 – Negativity only begets negativity. NOTHING positive EVER comes of it…so don’t dwell on it.
    6 – How to Google. Google is my friend.
    7 – You’re never too old to be silly and laugh until your stomach hurts.
    8 – The joy of sale at my favorite store, and getting a bargain that’s a steal!
    9 – That making time to take care of your appearance makes you feel better about yourself.

    Reply

  32. Hi Chamayne,

    Oh sweetie! I’m sorry that I made you cry. 🙁 I believe that intuition is a really powerful thing, and just really hope that the story will make somebody think twice about dismissing that “nagging gut feeling.” It’s there for a reason.

    I’m hoping that you are having a good afternoon.

    Reply

  33. Hey Glosslizard,

    Have you ever been to the Scharffen Berger factory? I went two years ago and I swear I was hyper for three days after going chocolate crazy while I was there.

    I knew it! I am an alto, lets do a duet! I never learned to sight read for voice so I think that’s so awesome. Do you ever notice that some days are just really great singing days? I am having one today.

    LOL, my Spanglish is awful. Funny story: a few years ago El Hub and I went to Mexico. He is a not as tan as I am (brown hair, hazel eyes) and so whenever locals would go up to us they’d automatically start talking to me in Espanol and I’d shake my head and immediately point at El Hub. There would always be this split second moment of confusion and they’d carry on with him. He’d carry on conversations (he took many years of Spanish and his accent is impeccable) and I’d just look on, kinda dumbfounded.

    Reply

  34. Hi Megan,

    Thanks girl! I so agree with you… Google is your BEST FRIEND! Oh, and I’m also down for the silliness and laughing ’till your stomach hurts, too. Have a fantastic weekend! Any plans for tonight?

    Reply

  35. LOL yes of course. I will be out and about. Although I’ll be calling it an early night. My 9:30 got cancelled and my boss was out today…so I went out with the girls last night. We are going out again tonight to hang out for a bit. Nothing too crazy.

    Reply

  36. Girls night, how fun! Do you know what look you’re going to do?

    Have you ever looked for your ex’s on google? I am *really great* at finding people. Many a friend has emailed me to track down their ex boyfriends, and most of the time I can find them too. I should start charging, shoot!

    Reply

  37. Not 100% sure what we’re doing yet.

    Girl…I’ve had internet access since I was like 11…no joke. Who are you telling? I can find people. Try these on:
    http://www.searchbug.com – this one has a peoplefinder, and if you do a public records search the free one shows you the person’s age, cities they’ve lived in and names associated (like relatives etc.)

    http://lifehacker.com/software/feature/how-to-track-down-anyone-online-329033.php This one has a list of sites.

    Oh and I am so not an internet stalker, BUT I’ve been a single gal in the city…and you can’t really always trust people. 🙂

    Reply

  38. I used to drive by the chocolate factory almost every day for work, and I’ve never been! Someday… someday!

    Ha! Some mornings I wake up with a low, gritty, husky voice, so I belt out Janice Joplin tunes! 🙂

    Reply

  39. OMG Megan, you are such a stalker! J/K! I am just jealous of your skills, LOL. I can’t believe you’ve had internet access for that long, holy wow! I didn’t have email until college and truth be told, didn’t have the intenets at my house until the boy moved in a few years ago. When we first started dating I was straight out the stone ages… no TV, no computer, no internet. I did have a phone though (but it didn’t do anything fancy).

    I think it’s good that you do your homework; these days you need to!

    Have fun tonight with your girls! 🙂

    Reply

  40. Hey Glosslizard,

    That factory has the BEST cafe attached to it. I swear I ate half the food on the menu when we visited. Then there was the chocolate overload during the tour… yup. That was a good day!

    I love Janice J., btw!

    Reply

  41. Karen,

    Of course! I’m still in highschool, lol. Yeah, I play it :D. When I tell people that they’re like, what the heck is that?! I just sigh and say I play the trumpet lol.

    Reply

  42. Oh Lordy. You can add me to the French Horn & Mellophone (because it’s more fun to learn a 2nd set of finger combinations and heft that baby into the air for marching season) Band Geek Club. My school had very new silver mellophones and we were forced to wear little white cotton gloves whenever playing it to help the silver not turn into a tarnished mess. Talk about embarrassing/weird tan-lines. My parents recently forced me to bring my double french horn to my house. I’m not sure I can sell it, but it’s been 13 years since I’ve played it.

    I would have loved to learn the violin, however my school didn’t have an orchestra… just three levels of concert bands, a fairly hardcore marching band (pushup punishments for mistakes) and a jazz band. Maybe someday I’ll venture into the world of strings. 😉

    Reply

  43. Hehe, exactly. My mum doesn’t like the sound either but once I’ll play it she won’t dare to say she hates it 😉

    I play the violin and started to play the cello last year. Love love it! I also take singing classes (it’s just so much fun) and for school I have to play the piano and the recorder.

    Karen B’s last blog post..Drabble: Reverie

    Reply

  44. I’m there right with you on the reading music part. It took me YEARS to learn to read notes. It’s a great skill to have under your belt. Also, I’m glad i also know how to wax my she-stache as well. 🙂

    Reply

  45. Hi Stina,

    I used to do the same thing, ha ha ha! I would tell them I played “an oversized trumpet!”

    So do you guys compete during the fall season?

    Reply

  46. Hi Kelly,

    HA! We’ve got a whole mellophone mafia up in here (that’s what my section used to call themselves, OMG, so corny)! I guess you know attention, parade rest, high mark time, and all that other band geek stuff too!

    My school had a pretty vigorous marching band, too.

    I’m up in here somewhere…I think I played flute in this show. LOLOLOLOLZ

    Reply

  51. Oh that’s great! Do members of your band end up doing drum corps in the summer? I had a bunch of friends who’d do it every summer (I never did though).

    Reply

  52. Hi Karen B.,

    Lucky! I have to really struggle to get those high notes. I haven’t consistently worked at it in a while though (that usually helps, doh!).

    Reply

  53. What a great idea. I never thought to look for my old shows on youtube… all three of them are there, wow.

    Here was my junior year show “Pirates” (long before Johnny Depp pirates). Colorguard (and front line) wore various pirate outfits and got to perform with nooses, scimitars, and bottle-shaped and ‘map’ flags. That was the year I wished I wasn’t playing mellophone!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Kiug4wiAU

    The huge “map” they pull out towards the end is pretty ambiguous… the X marks the spot is barely visible. I guess that’s what happens pre-digital age, ha!

    Well that trip down memory lane made me feel old. 😉

    Reply

  54. Hey!

    That’s right, I do have a wonderful back-up troop that’s always there for me. Nevertheless, I still need to improve my skills to talk about my feelings more. I guess then they would support me even more. 🙂 I also need to borrow your #3, that one I forgot. Nothing that terrible has never happened to me, but otherwise I can always count on my instincts.

    Alekss last blog post..What weekends are for

    Reply

  55. K My mom is an elementary school principal, and she also worked with some curriculum development etc. with the state…so yeah I guess we were cutting edge. We had home internet access circa 1991 (age 11). By the time I was 16, we had a home network set up…so that I had my own computer in my room. 🙂

    Reply

  56. Hi Kelly,

    Aren’t those old shows a trip? While watching my old one I remembered certain sequences, and found myself using my pencil as a flute!

    Did you have a mellophone bruise on your leg? Our whole section had bruises on our left thighs because we had this two-count parade rest where the rim of the horn would end up slamming against the leg…

    I’m such a band geek.

    Mark time hut…

    Reply

  57. Hi Aleks,

    I am glad nothing terrible happened to you and I hope that stays that way. You should always listen to that voice… seriously. There’s a reason why it’s there!

    Been meaning to ask you, how’s Herrta?

    Reply

  58. Hi Megan,

    Wow! You are so techie to me right now. I didn’t get e-mail until I was a junior (only because I had to do it for statistics class) in COLLEGE, LOL.

    I still remember that AOL dial up sound, ha ha ha.

    Reply

  59. Great list, Karen. I’m glad you didn’t go closer to that stranger’s car when you were younger and that you listened to your guiding voice.

    Reply

  60. Hello hello!

    I’m glad I know that:
    1) if I make a mistake it isn’t the end of the world…or if it is I guess it wouldn’t matter.
    2) I now know BOTH of my parents but I also know that they do not define me and I am who I am.
    3) I have amazing friends who help me through all of my tough moments.
    4) My grandma, who has raised me since I was about 3 years old. She holds me up whenever I fall.
    5) My strength. For some strange reason I always strive for more.
    6) the color blue…it’s such a pretty color.
    7) My brother.
    8) Movies
    9) Education for it offers you more opportunities

    Reply

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