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| Crystal in a well-sown field with her husband Mark (photo credit to Oh! Photography) |
"Well behaved women rarely make history"
Some folks credit it to Eleanor Roosevelt, others say Marilyn Monroe or possibly Gloria Steinem...well whatever, it's a quote I hold dear.
At our house, we are firm believers in having fun and sowing your wild oats. That time of sowing makes for great stories later on in life, and even if you aren't a writer, it's fun to reflect on those years of fun and frivolity. If you are a writer - even better for adding depth and dimension to your young or wayward characters.
Just this evening, I ran into a gentleman about my age. Our paths have crossed many times through life and tonight's conversation went something like this:
"Hey Chad - you had a great time between 20 and 30, right?"
With a sparkle in his eye, "Oh yes, I sure did!"
"And any regrets?"
"Absolutely not!"
To put it in context, I was out having a delightful time with some friends who happen to be young enough to be my children. I tease the young man about claiming him on my taxes since he's eaten more meals at my house than some of the children I've birthed myself. The young man is 22 and getting ready to settle down with a delightful young woman.
My fear for the young couple is the lack of sowing - they haven't sown those wild oats. I'm fearful they will settle down, get married, have children, and never experience that decade of wild freedom and fun. I'm old enough to know that missing those years mean one of two things:
1) A lifetime of wondering "What if?"
2) A midlife crisis that usually includes a broken home, shared custody, and pain for innocent children and bystanders.
Dear reader, before you get offended - I realize there are some high school sweethearts who marry young and live a dreamy life of bliss...but statistics show most marriages today end in divorce. The happily ever after is something most of us dream about but seldom of us get right the first time. If you are one of the happy couples who beat the odds - good for you - leave a comment about what you think the key to a successful marriage is (please)!
I sowed a lot of wild oats and like my friend Chad (not to be confused with sewing which I am not very good at) - I wouldn't change a thing and I don't regret a single seed (even the ones thrown into the wind). As I sit and watch the young couple navigate their own relationship, I smile at my memories of love found, love lost, and all those seeds that have since become journal entries, stories I share with a smile on my face, and someday my very own memoir. I'm not looking to make history, but I'm certainly not claiming to be well behaved either.
How do you feel about your youth? Your so-called mis-spent years? What's your plan? Do you share those stories with your friends and family? Are they fond memories?
What advice do you have for young couples or young people today? Do you believe in sowing those wild oats?
We'd love to hear from you!
Cheers!
xoxoxo
Crystal
You can find Crystal riding unicorns, taking the ordinary and giving it a little extra (making it extraordinary), blogging and reviewing books, baby carriers, cloth diapers, and all sorts of other stuff here, and at her personal blog - Crystal is dedicated to turning life's lemons into lemonade!
2 comments:
Crystal, I hate to say this. Your spelling of the words sew/sewing are spot on. I don't think they are the words you meant.
SE - I'm so glad you commented...I meant to get back to this article before it published (and whoops - time got away from me). I wasn't sowing or sewing...lol...your comment popped up in my inbox and got me back here to fix it.
How embarrassing but much thanks to you!
xoxo
Crystal
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