Dear 16-year-old Me,
You've made it to 23! You won't believe the incredible man you are married to... you are going to be so happy. And can you believe it? You aren't an English teacher but instead are in physical therapy school! You never saw that one coming.
If I could go back and give you advice I would tell you a few things. I'd tell you that boys aren't as important as you think they are. You are too young to know what you want, so it's better to work on improving your relationships with God, your family, and your friends. And YOU are worth so much, more than you could possibly imagine. It's not the end of the world if that boy doesn't like you because God, the God who made the universe, loves you. He chose you to be His daughter and He has a wonderful plan for your life. It's tough, but try to trust Him.
Friends are important to have, but make sure to choose the right ones. Friends can lift you up or they can bring you down. They can make you feel more comfortable about being yourself or they can make you feel like a loser for liking the things you do. Don't choose those friends. Even though it's hard, remember what YOU like and not just what is cool. Having name brands is not important and is a waste of your hard earned money.
Don't forget-- life is precious. Stop rushing to grow up, to have a boyfriend, to fall in love. Slow down, little girl, because you will want to treasure these moments. You will only be this age once. Make the most of it!
I know you are trying hard and that life can be messy and complicated. But I wouldn't just give this advice to you if I could, I would give it to every teenage girl out there. Stop worrying so much about what other people think you should look like and act like and START worrying about what you want to be. Stop seeking other's approval and START seeking God's approval. I wish you could see how lovely and smart and strong you were designed to be!
Love, ME
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| My good friend Lexie and I, around age 16 (: |
So if you could go back and give yourself advice, what would you say?
I'd have to say I'd tell myself not to be so concerned about fitting in the 'guidelines' and making myself act how I thought everyone wanted me to. At that age, I think the toughest thing is to be yourself 100% and not worry about judgement... even though there really is a lot of judging going on. I totally believe that the ages of 14-16 are the most awkward, there's so much we learn about ourselves during that phase! Thanks for posting this, Danielle!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Thanks Sierra!
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