advice

On Saturday I was able to travel to my cousin's high school graduation with my family.
And goodness gracious, didn't I just graduate, like, yesterday? Yikes.

But anyways, I've noticed how easy it is to get stuck in your own darn world. To forget about the things going on around you and the joy that others experience in their big milestones, like graduation. I was so incredibly excited about my own graduation, I felt so adult and so ready to GO, to start my life.

But it's so easy to forget those feelings and to just let these huge moments for others pass right on by.

I'm trying to be intentional about expressing joy for those around me. It's so much harder than you would think.

Anyways... that's not what I was really planning on writing about. At my cousin's graduation there was a speaker, an entrepreneur and apologist who has an awesome presence on stage and what he talked about really struck a chord with me.

{freshman year: 2008}

He spoke about living between the walls of legalism and liberty. (yeah, if you couldn't tell, my cousin goes went to a smarty-party school) Well in this talk he spoke about advice that we would give our fifteen year old selves. Now, I know that I'm only nineteen, just four years past braces and freshman year, but I have some things I wish that I had known.

I would say that you, my dear, are not in control. God is, so give it up.

Life isn't easy. And unfortunately it only gets harder. But you know, it also gets more rewarding and more meaningful.

DON'T avoid or delete pictures. Ever. You may look like crap, think you look chunky or your makeup may be messed up (see 2009 picture above)...but each of those pictures captures a memory. It's a freeze frame that can bring a rush of thoughts, circumstances and feelings back and those are so precious.

Time passes quickly and defining yourself by the achievement of "big" events, like turning sixteen, graduating, or going to college makes it pass even faster.

{senior year: 2012}

There are lots of things that you will feel like you have to do. Most of them, you don't. Do things that strengthen your faith in God, bring you joy and serve others.

Just be yourself. Forget what the world says about what you have to be and how you have to act. You are special because of how you contrast with worldly ideals.

Abide.  Abide in the knowledge that even if you feel lost and have no direction, God knows. He knows your life, thoughts and prayers...but more importantly, he knows your future.

All these things I wish I would've know at fourteen. Now would I have listened? Um, nope, probs not. Would it mean anything to me at that point... also, probs not. Despite the fact that I didn't know these things then, here I am, able to see the value in all of my moments and to me, that's much much better than living a "perfect" life.