Last weekend I attended my 25th anniversary class reunion. Even typing 25th anniversary doesn’t seem like it could possibly apply to me.  It seems like it was just a couple of years ago that we got our green caps and gowns and excitedly walked across that stage.

Living in a small city, most of us had been together since childhood at one of only a few elementary schools in the city. Now  some of us had kids, even grandkids (me), in elementary school. But it still felt like it was just yesterday that we were signing yearbooks and preparing to venture out onto our separate journeys.

Although 25th anniversary doesn’t feel like it should apply to me, it does. And I’m grateful I can type it, say it, and celebrate it.

Because one of my best friends started the planning for the reunion, I joined the committee to support her. A few others joined, and we made it happen. Everything turned out better than any of us ever expected (we’re missing two from this pic)!

For our 20th anniversary reunion, I was emotional and made a post about being the teen mom graduate of our class. I was emotional for the 25th too especially reflecting on the number of classmates we’ve lost already- including the students sitting to my immediate right and left at our graduation.

This time I’ll share 25 thoughts I had while planning and celebrating with my classmates and missing others. 25 lessons, 25 takeaways that go far beyond the reunion.

Consider these 25 Life Takeways that you can apply to life now and going forward.

Showing Up

1. Some people will show up and take the lead without anticipation of appreciation or compensation.

2. Some people will show up and support helping wherever they can.

3. Some people will show up and their presence changes the environment (for good or bad).

4. Some people won’t show up no matter how much they are asked, invited or begged. Everyone has their own reasons.

5. The key to peace and happiness is to embrace those who do show up and don’t give energy to those who don’t.

 

Growing Up

6. Although life can be hard, life is full of beautiful and fun memories if you choose to focus on them.

7. Recognize that change is inevitable and is usually an indication of progress even when it’s painful. People change, situations change, minds change.

8. BUT…Some people don’t change and neither do their situations. However, things and people change around them.

9. Life can be full of regrets or full of lessons learned by taking chances. It’s all about our choices.

10. The key to growing up (and old) gracefully is to be positive, focus on your peace and happiness, and work consistently on being healthy- mind, body, and spirit.

 

Relationships

11. Stay connected to your friends. Life gets busy. Miles get between you. It’s easy to lose connection, but make the effort.

12. Friendships with people who are different than you expand your mind and make you more compassionate. And just make you better.

13. Be kind to everyone. You never know what a person is experiencing, how you can help each other, or where that relationship may take you 25 years from now.

14. It’s okay that a boyfriend or girlfriend relationship didn’t work out. Maybe it’s actually a great thing.

15. The key to relationships is being intentional. Intentional about caring. Intentional about supporting. Intentional about staying connected.

Success

16. Your choices have consequences. Sometimes immediate and sometimes it takes a long time to realize the magnitude of a single choice and its impact on your life.

17. Yes, people judge others, but in many cases you’re missing out on happiness with others because you are judging yourself and think others are judging you. Plus, the people you may think are successful have their own issues that you may or may not know.

18. Most people want to see you succeed and will cheer for you and support you. You just have to surround yourself with the right people and be the kind of person striving for success and willing to embrace others.

19. Failure and success are like beauty. For the most part, whichever it is or its level are in the eye of the beholder. Your success is by your definition and what you really want for your life.

20. The key to feeling successful is being honestly happy with where you are in life and doing whatever it takes to get there without comparison to anyone else.

Life

21. A quarter of a century can fly by in the blink of an eye.

22. Beauty, brains, health, athletic ability and more will fade, but life choices can speed up or slow down the process.

23. It’s never too late to have a new dream or make a big move.

24. Tomorrow is not promised.

25. The key to life is to look for the positive even if you have to dig deep. Embrace and learn from your perceived failures. Celebrate all of your successes. And recognize all the opportunities for love, connection, progression, relaxation, love and happiness.

 

Have you attended your class reunions? Why or why not? What are your takeaways from your class reunions?