29

29 things I've learned
Meant to be written as a general list, but instead came out in a single sitting without pause as a bullet-listed letter to a younger me.

1. It doesn't serve you to feel anything but love and respect for your body, no matter how it looks.
2. You get to choose to only keep thoughts that DO serve you if you want.
3. You can do bigger things than you give yourself credit for.
4. Fail big while you're still at home! If failure scares you there, it's going to scare you into paralysis when you leave.
5. Listen to Macy and get a therapist. What the heck do you have to lose? It's not easier later.
6. God is in the details. He really is. Try to see Him there-it's not hard I promise.
7. The things that shine as "talents" in high school and college have no bearing on how a person's life turns out as an adult. (which is where most of your years are spent)
8. Kiss a boy sooner than 20. It's not worth being so scared of, and it might help you open up and stop keeping everyone at arms distance (hint: that's not serving you)
9. Confidence and arrogance are not the same thing. Confidence will serve you time and again.
10. Say yes to the opportunities. I'm just barely starting to do this. But it's liberating to let go of the excuses when it's something you want.
11. Enjoy the time you have with your family. And don't forget what a safe place that was- even when it gets painful. It's ok, maybe even crucial, to remember the good even when it all seems bad.
12. Save money when you have no bills! I know it's hard, but you can do anything! I know it doesn't feel like it- but you actually are a grown up!
13. It is possible to get better with age, even though everyone tells you to "enjoy it while you can" Weight, confidence, acne, relationships.... so many things can get better.
14. You can even look better after babies than before (although enjoy your belly button, because it's never coming back #worthit)
15. Honor your love of the outdoors. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal now, but you'll need it.
16. You're an introvert. I know you've been told otherwise your whole life, but there's a reason your favorite part of girl's camp was sitting at the stream by yourself with your journal. Honor that too.
17. Maintain the friendships that make you feel seen.
18. Listen to the people that you trust most, but follow your gut every time. You feel things and there's a reason.
19. Silence is ok too, but learn how to ask people questions. You'll never regret learning that skill.
20. I know it seems like everybody already has a group of friends, but branch out at school when you lose all of yours. Everyone is lonely in high school, but nobody wants to say so.
21. People will put their faith in you more than you feel you deserve. Thank them and believe them. That's enough to start.
22. Do every kind thing.
23. Buy what you like, not what your mom and sister like- you're style never does line up with theirs and it's ok to like what you like.
24. You're going to go through some brutal heartbreak and you're going to feel simultaneously like you've been split wide open and crushed by ton of bricks all at once. You'll make it, and you'll think about all those church lessons where you wished you understood the depth of it, and you'll get it now. You will cry every once in a while, maybe for the rest of your life, but it will be worth it for the new depth with which you understand the gospel, if nothing else.
25. You will find someone who loves you unconditionally. And I mean that. You're husband will love you for real, and not for all your outward accomplishments. He will show you what unconditional love actually is.
26. On that note, he isn't who you're picturing now. He's totally different. But he's exactly what you need, and will help you become who God intends you to be.
27. Don't wait. For anything. Theres no perfect timeline for anything.
28. God gave you dreams. So many of them you could burst. It wasn't an accident.
29. You're going to be ok. You're going to be more than ok.