ADVICE FOR MY 18 YEAR-OLD SELF

Friday, September 23, 2016



Well, here I am, celebrating another birthday. I would say it isn't special, but my friend Lacy is a firm believer that they are all special...so, YAY 28! Now that I am older and wiser (HAHAHA) I thought it would be appropriate to write down some advice that I would have for my younger self. So, here are few things that I have learned over the years!

1. Don't Conform: You spent a greater part of your early adulthood trying to conform to the norms. Go to college, get a degree, find a job, get married, start a family. I wouldn't change my path if I could, but I would change the fact that I constantly worried about fitting into a mold. 

2. Be Yourself: Don't change who you are...not for anyone. You are exactly who God designed you to be. Your skills, your talents, & your quirks all make you unique and special. Don't try to be someone you are not. 

3. Love Recklessly: People are going to come into your life...love them! When they build you up, love them. When they hurt you, love them. When they don't show love themselves, love them anyways. When they love you, LOVE THEM! We are here to love, don't waste time with hate...or even dislike. Investing in people and relationships is the greatest thing you can do. Choose love all the time! 

4. Take Advice: You are 18 and you don't know everything. There are so many people in your life that have so much knowledge to share. Take advice and corrective criticism and grow from it. 

5. Forgive: Life is too short to harbor anger towards others. There are going to come days when people hurt you, but there is beauty in the hurt. Those people who hurt you will also teach you valuable lessons and let you see strengths you didn't know you had. AND grace is a beautiful thing.

6. Embrace Life's Curve Balls: That five year plan that you have (heck that 10 year plan that you have)...don't be disappointed when it doesn't go the way you thought it would. I know what your goals are; I know what you are envisioning for yourself. Things don't always go as planned, and that is okay. It is going to hurt when some of your plans fall apart, but the end is going to be beautiful. The plans you have for yourself are so tiny compared to the plans He has written for you. You are going to meet people, go on adventures, and discover things about yourself that you would never get to do if your plan went exactly the way you hoped. Embrace life. Cry when it hurts, but look for the blessings and remember that it all going to work out.

7. Have Fun: Sometimes you take life way to seriously! Your older self knows a little bit about having a good time and embracing fun when it is needed! Go find a new hobby, spend time with your friends, and have fun with these precious days that God has given you. You won't regret it!

In 10 years you will be in awe of the season that God has you in. It is beautifully messy & filled with love. You have an amazing husband, the sweetest little boy, a wonderful family, and the most incredible friends. You are a lucky one! 

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