Life skills everyone should know

Last week, Adam and I went to a movie (Foxcatcher — we had mixed feelings) and when we came out of the theater to leave, my car battery was dead. Never a good way to end the night. We called my mom to come help us jump it, and like the angel she is, she hopped in her car and was there within 20 minutes.

My dad showed me how to jump my battery when he replaced the one in my car last spring. He left the cables in my car, and I felt pretty confident that I would be able to do it if I ever needed to. Until I actually needed to.

When the time came I was flustered, cold and a little confused. It was making a strange ticking noise and the alarm went off every time we tried to clamp both cables to my battery. Adam and Mom were doing all the work, and while we were all trying to figure out the honking, a couple walked by and stopped to see if we needed help. A few minutes later, another couple asked us again. Let me tell you: Midwestern hospitality is a thing, and there really are good people out in this world.

Anyway, we finally succeeded in bringing my car back to life and made it safely home from the theater. But it got me thinking about this list I'd read a while ago called "30 Life Skills to Master Before You Turn 30." Surprisingly, jumping a car battery is not on the list. Changing a flat tire is there (also important, and also something I've never actually done). But if I could add one thing, it would be using jumper cables properly and successfully. Other things the list includes: how to sew a button, how to send a condolence card and how to make a good cup of coffee.

It's an interesting read, and some definitely seem more necessary than others, but it makes me wonder: What do you think every person should know how to do before they reach 30? Do you know how to do most of the stuff on the list?

(Image via Gimme More Bananas)