We can all agree life has been turned on its ass these last couple of years. Social and physical distancing, sanitizing protocols, restrictions, vaccinations, political unrest, loss of family and friends and our sense of our selves. This time has tested our relationships, our grit, focus and all that make us loving and caring humans.
My story is no different than the billions of others around the world, other than I am fortunate enough to be here, typing in a home I was able to keep, on an income that was unscathed by the world shutting down. I am one of the fortunate and lucky ones. And while there were many moments I felt down and sad about the state of the world, I woke up, worked, loved and fed my kids, made the best of the time together we’d likely never have again and got out on the other side.
These last few months have offered some of us a recovery to our privileged lives of pre-pandemic time. Family dinners, dating IRL with some physical connection (finally), vacations, live music, grocery shopping, dinners out, stocked toilet paper and seeing people we couldn’t for a couple of years. I had the opportunity back in June to see and hug people I hadn’t seen in 27 years and it’s taken me over 32 days to process how that night has changed my outlook (even more) as I look ahead to the next stage of my life.
Here are the 10 life lessons my 25th high school reunion taught me:
- Food and drink will always bring people together – have good food, cold drinks and lots of both to make people comfortable and at ease. Tacos, poutine, fries, dessert, beer, wine, pop, water, caramels, ring pops made a difference.
- Your memory of the version of someone is not who they are now – one of my classmates recently said, “what else are you going to do when you know nothing?”. This stuck with me because there were so many people I never knew or talked with in schoom, yet I had a version of them in my head. If this reunion has taught me ANYTHING it’s that you need to let people in to really find out what they have to offer the world. I’m so grateful to the many of classmates I now talk with daily. We are better/different versions of who I thought we all were.
- For the most part, no one really cares how you look, who you love, or what you do for a living – I feel like I don’t need to say much more on this. High school always came with assumptions and stereotypes that I hope you all realize makes no fucking difference now. Bald, fat, gay, pan, bus driver, scientist – it doesn’t matter.
- Keep your yearbooks – just keep the damn yearbooks. This reunion and all the fun memories leading up to it would not have been the same without those photos!
- Always say yes \ Do something scary – go to your reunion, make out with that guy behind the building, have a cigarette, stay up past 10:30pm, say hi to your crush (or tell him he was your crush after 25 years)
- Make time to say hello – I’ve heard a lot of “I wish I had talked to that person”; then talk to that person. If you really want to, then reach out or get in touch with me and I’ll connect you. It’s not weird.
- Eat the damn churros – that’s all.
- Have a little fun – don’t let the chase of busy get in the way of slowing down and having some fun. Maybe it’s pub night, maybe it’s a round of boring golf, maybe it’s texting with your old yearbook editor to shoot the shit and plan drinks on your patio.
- Forgiveness is a game changer in life – for those who had a tough go in high school, showing up to a reunion may have not only been a trigger, but cause of a lot of anxiety. I don’t know what you all dealt with the pre party angst, but I said a little “I forgive you” before I entered those school doors on June 4th. While I know those who needed to hear those words didn’t, I let that shit go and it opened up a night of love and magic for me.
- Connection, love, laughs and friendship will always be what matters in the end – don’t you agree?
What a special night that was. If you’re interested in seeing a bit more, hop on over to website to see some pretty great shots.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to remember why being Yearbook editor was a big part of my 5 years of high school. Connection – it’s all about connection.
Love,
Axo
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