One of my favorite writers Emily at Chatting at the Sky has released her newest book “Graceful” for teenage girls. If you have teenagers or minister to them, this is a must read. Her real and authentic spirit captures hearts. In keeping with her new release she has asked that we write a letter to our teenage self.
While I’ve pondered over this for awhile, I’m not sure if this makes me laugh hysterically or cry good and bad tears. Either way, I’ve appreciated the challenge. What would you say to your then teenage self? I’d love to hear.
Dear 17-year-old me,
I wish I could walk beside you and cheer you on. I would help you be brave and courageous. There’s no need for all that wishing, waiting, and hoping you do. Step out and be yourself.
Don’t worry what others will think, because although you promise that you’ll always keep in touch after graduation day, you won’t. They will soon be gone and you’ll be left wondering who you are.
Your looks. Well, it’s SO you — crazy curly hair and all! You don’t know it yet but Barbara Striesand will soon release a movie that will make crazy curly hair — you guessed — in style! And those legs that you keeping thinking are short and fat, well years down the road you’ll look back and see they look more like bird legs. So, stand up tall and lift your head high. Quit being critical of yourself.
BTW – I know you love your lifeguarding job. But, could you quit putting “baby oil” on yourself which burns you. Soon there will be the awareness of skin cancer. As soon as you can get you some SPF girl! You’ll always love the water and sun, but get some sense. And those tan-lines, well not-so-cute . . . just sayin’!
All those big fat red-tip pen marks that have plagued your English papers, wellllllll, you might want to pay a little more attention to what they are for and how you can improve your writing. I don’t want to freak you out, but you will write for the whole world to see one day. There’s this futuristic thing coming called the “world wide web” and you will be blown away. Trust me!
And that microwave — it’s nothing compared to the technology coming!
I want you to quit being afraid to speak out. The F’s you’d rather take than standing in front of a class, well get over that. Quit ducking when the teacher asks questions. Raise your hand and act like what you have to say is important. Challenge yourself now to step out of your comfort zone. You might as well begin this challenge now, because believe it or not — God is going to call you to speak and write. Seriously!! He’s got some kind of a crazy plan coming.
You can pick yourself up off the floor now! I kind of debated whether to tell you this or not, because I knew you’d FREAK OUT! Trust in the fact that God will prepare you and lead the way, but you will need to be brave and step out. Start practicing now!
I know you want to be a veterinarian and I’m proud of that goal. But it’s kind of complicated. That boy you just met, well he’s going to join the military. Yep – you’ll be an Army Officer Wive. You’ll go to Germany where there will be no vet school – in English anyway. You’re going to feel lost. You’re going to miss all those animals you have raised for years, especially your sweet trusted horse Sandy. But trust God. He’s got a far better plan. Even in the confusion He’s leading you.
While you fret over the fact that you always come in second or as runner-up, don’t let that bother you. You see it will take you years to learn this, but life is really about putting others first anyways. God is just preparing you to play second-fiddle. He is teaching you that others are always more important than yourself. I know — it’s a hard lesson because it would have been fun to be the Homecoming Queen instead of just being on The Court.
You are involved in so much. Keep at it, because you are learning much about not quitting and leadership. These lessons will be most valuable the rest of your life. I know you’re there just for the friends (yeh, we both know you really don’t like school), but learn leadership. You are going to need it!
Continue to learn about photography. You’ve learned much in newspaper and journalism. But you’ll have opportunity to own your own business one day (I know, another scary thought), and all your creative communication skills will be your future. You’ll love the journey, once you get over being afraid.
All those kids and students that tug at your heart because others judge or make fun of them. Well, keep sticking up for them and befriending them. You don’t understand why your heart is so tender, but it is a gift. God will use that gift later in life to reach people you are afraid of at 17. Keep sticking up for others!
Stop and cherish moments. Seriously, quit wanting to rush off to the next thing. Each day will rush by fast enough. Enjoy the moments to listen to records with friends (oh, there’s some cool stuff coming for music — you’re going to love it!), run around in jeans and socks, sit on the front porch stairs, lie on the grass, star at the moon and enjoy the beauty of the ranch. And while it’s fun to wish on stars and pick flowers for “he loves me, he loves me not”, I so hope you know there is nothing to that.
Roll more houses, spend more time at the dinner table, and cruise around Sonic a few more times. And when your daddy embarrasses you – laugh – you’ll come to treasure those moments. Appreciate all your mom does, because you won’t understand until you’re a mom. Seriously, love your brother and sister more. You’ll be ashamed when you are older at how you treated them. Play the piano more, practice guitar, and enjoy all that music has to offer. It will be a source of inspiration throughout your life.
I’m proud of you. The journey ahead will amaze and confound you, but it’s worth it.
Put on your big girl panties – and live life to the fullest!
Love ya,
your older self
p.s. Forget about the boys. The right one will come along. Leave the boy drama behind and just enjoy every moment you have with your girlfriends. You will not regret this. Trust me!
What would you say to your younger self? I’d love to read about it in the comments.
If you’d like to read more, hop over to Emily’s here.
I loved it! We are, or were, a lot a like. We have the same kind of hair:) I slathered baby oil on and baked all the time :( And I ducked in my school chair all the time when the teacher asked questions :/ And I still cruise to Sonic…a lot :)
Enjoyed your letter. You grew up very well :)
Yep – the more we expose ourselves here on this crazy thing called a blog – I can definitely see where we might be sisters! Still cruising Sonic — Route 44 Diet Cherry Limeade. Perfect pick-me-up! Enjoy your weekend friend. Love the work you do on the streets!
Such a cute letter and what a hard thing to do! This is a real exercise in writing, is it not?
Lisa – it was a hard letter to write. I almost opted out. Some of it brought me to tears – other parts left me smiling and laughing! I kept thinking “if only” “if only”, but there’s no such thing as “if only’s.” Blessings friend.
I totally relate to being the girl who didn’t raise her hand/speak up. (I still struggle with that stuff if I am honest). I wish I would have had the guts to participate/share more.
And I love at the end how you say you are proud of yourself.
I wonder what future me wants to tell present me, you know?
It was hard to write “I’m proud of you.” I think the reason was because I didn’t feel like that back then. But I wanted to tell myself that because I wanted my younger self to know someone was proud of her. Yeah – it will be crazy in twenty years from now to write a letter to our now selves. Scary, kind of!!!!
Ohhh, how I loved this. Especially the baby oil part. I remember using baby oil with iodine drops in it. You know, since baby oil and the sun can’t get you dark enough, you should totally use baby oil.
Oh Alene, what a great post! Terrific heart radiates within the younger you and now. It’s so cool…
All the best to you,
Tammy
PS: Baby oil tanner, too. Did you also use Sun-In like I did, lol?
I loved this Alene, such a great post!
I did it to and oh how it made me cry…
Wow, this is awesome. I love love love how the Lord prepared you even as a teenager to put others first. That a perspective. He always has His reasons, doesn’t He?
He sure does girl, but I don’t feel very prepared for this life I’m living now. LOL
Ok, you just wrote to MY teenage self! So, Ill just adopt your letter. But, you left a couple of things out! As I recall, sweet cousin, you had an infectious smile and an awesome sense of humor! I just wanted to be like you. :) Maybe your teenage self didn’t know it at the time, but you were having remarkable effects on us all!
Sweet cousin — you make me cry!!! Thanks for your encouraging words. You bless me so…