On my last visit home, I came across a long forgotten gem from my teenage years...a letter I had written to my future self, as an assignment for my freshmen english class. We were to write about what we hoped our lives would like, what dreams we had hoped to have pursued by then. Ha, while it was fun reminiscing my dreams of being a lawyer (shortly after Legally Blonde came out...) and having 5 kids by the time I was 25 (?!?) it got me thinking. There are some life lessons I have learned in the past ten years that I wish someone had taught me then. **I'm sure my parents made some attempt, but what teenager is listening to their parents, amIright?** Though I don't have any regrets with the way things have worked out, I think such advice would've made a big difference on how I perceived my season of life as a high school freshman.
So...to my 15 year old self; some advice.
Stop trying to be liked by everyone.So...to my 15 year old self; some advice.
Be yourself and stop worrying what others might think. Stop asking your parents to spend obscene amounts of money on Abercrombie jeans and Gap hoodies. No one will think of you differently (or even notice) if you show up in clothes you got from Target (or in your case, the local Pamida). If they do they aren't worth your time anyway. Invest in the people who care about you, instead of trying to earn the approval of the ones who don't. Unfortunately, ten years from now you will still be pretty obsessed with wanting everyone to like you. But you will slowly discover who and what is most important in your life. Which brings me to my next point.
Quality trumps quantity.
In effort to make friends with everyone, you are losing quality time with the people who love you most. You won't talk to most of them after graduation anyway. So stop spreading yourself and your time too thin--invest your time and energy into the relationships and friendships that matter to you most.
Also--you can't do everything. You don't have to be in every sport, on every committee. Pick a few and give it your best, instead of trying to do them all, poorly.
Family comes first, friends second.
They say that a girl learns to appreciate her mom more and more as she grows up. So the fact that you spend very little time talking with and showing appreciation to her now is somewhat typical. But unfortunately, you don't have the typical timeframe as most other teenage girls. Cherish EVERY minute of the next six years with this amazing woman. Gosh, what I would give for another day with her. There are so many things I want to ask her now, in this new season of life--questions I have and can't ever be answered. So instead of blowing her off to spend more time with friends, just stay at home. Help her make dinner, wash the dishes. And when she gets sick, stay home and help. She won't ask for it, you might not even realize she needs help. But you won't ever regret spending that time with her. It's going to seem unfair, you're going to wish you had a "ordinary, healthy" mom. But let me tell you, there is nothing ordinary about her. She is extraordinary in EVERY way possible. So please, love her, learn from her, and appreciate all of the things you find so annoying about her right now.
Also, if you think you love your dad to the moon and back now--just wait...you have no idea how much you will come to appreciate him in the next ten years.
Don't be lukewarm.
Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. Don't let other people talk you into doing something you don't want to do. Your faith is important to you, don't be afraid to share it! Unfortunately you cant live in the world and live out your faith at the same time. Be proud of what you believe in and make decisions you can be proud of.
And whatever you do, do it whole heartedly--give it your very best.
Enjoy your petite figure while you can.
Your 20-something metabolism sucks. Enough said.
Enjoy this season.
This is something you will most likely struggle with for the rest of your life. Stop waiting for the next season of life to begin or wishing you could go back and relive the past. God is constantly blessing us and teaching us in different ways in each phase of life--some lessons harder than others, but each offers opportunities of growth and refinement. His plans our beyond anything we could ever imagine, and He will be faithful in HIS perfect time. Trust me, trust Him.
You aren't good at basketball. Get a new hobby.
You will eventually grow into your awkward, lanky body. Until then, skip the hoops and use those skinny legs for running outside. I promise, you will enjoy it a lot more than sitting the bench.
Write more.
Don't wait until the "real world" to start journaling. What you are thinking and experiencing now is important, growing you in ways you may not even realize yet. Plus, I would pay a pretty penny to relive some of our major embarrassing moments, awkward school dances, and boy drama.
Get more lunch detentions.
Earning the yearly trip to "Kart Way" is not worth sucking up to teachers all year long. Having to sit in Mrs. Justice's room for 25 minutes during lunch period is not the end of the world (well except for her pet snake). Don't be afraid to have a little fun, just don't get crazy...or expelled.
Enjoy living in a small town.
You may hate it now and want nothing more than to move away. But I promise you, it's the only place you'll ever love coming back to.
You have a pretty great ten years ahead--you will be blessed and loved beyond belief. Enjoy! xo
