My birthday is in less than a month.  You would think I would have “grown up” at some point.  I’ve been married for almost 5 years which should define me as a grown up in itself, but still…

This happens.  Have I learned anything in my 28 years of existence?  I decided to pull out some of my older photos and see what I could find.  As I dumped out the 45 photos that came before digital cameras, I found some real gems.  So, here I share with you the lessons I learned young and have only perfected since then – including my totally normal selfies (as pictured above).

The Thumbs Up:

It fails every time doesn’t ever fail me.  It is my go to move and has been for my whole life.  My other go to move is not brushing my hair.  You tell me, is it time for me to share my secrets on how to be so photogenic?  I can’t even handle it.  I know there are some of you out there that have shared this same trait with me.  Some throw up a peace sign, some flip the bird, but 2 thumbs up is easy and family friendly.  I urge you to give it a shot.

Follow my lead (especially when dancing):

It’s clear that I was born with dancing talents.  If I show you a dance move, just follow along.  If I’m telling you that a curtain is your best prop ever, just go with it.  Ask anyone that went to Arizona with us, they will tell you that it was the best performance all weekend.  I can’t really explain it.  There is just something inside of me that points me in the right direction and I just move.

The Look No One Understands:

People want to take your picture all the time?  I know the pain/pressure.  I learned early that if you just make a face they don’t understand, the photo quickly becomes an artistic hit because everyone wants to understand it.  If you do it over and over, they lay off on the pictures.  Maybe because you’re ruining them, but I’m pretty sure it’s because they are analyzing what is happening in the photo because it’s just so breathtaking.  When I was young, I would look at you like you were speaking Russian.  As I grew up, if I looked away from the camera, people couldn’t get enough.  Kind of like the Mona Lisa… is she smiling?

Also, I must add, the photo on the right IS from my wedding night.  Somehow I ended up with a cowboy hat and a camo vest in a Wendy’s drive-thru.  That might be a story for a different day.

As I continue this journey to grow up and become classy, I have to continue to look back and learn from the awesomely awkward child I was.  I was pretty smart back then and have to remember to take my own advice.

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