With my flu medicine's effects kicking in and I am starting to feel drowsy, I quickly looked at the contest list compiled by @moneyinfant when I saw @cadawg's #talking16 contest. At times like this, I would let contests decide for me what to post about as my brain CPU is not at its optimum, hehe. I was thinking this is actually very interesting. You can check out his post about it. It is basically writing a letter to your 16-year-old self to give some advices. How cool is that, right? There are some things I really wish I knew that time, and perhaps I would be very different now. Just perhaps.
Image Source: Pexels
So here goes!
Hi self, I am sure you are at the age where you are very curious about how life can be for you when you grow up into young adulthood. There seem to be so many possibilities out there: What kind of course you may choose to study? Where will you go to after leaving home? What kind of people will you meet? What kind of relationship you will get into? Who are you going to marry one day and when will that be? What will your career be? Will you be able to make your parents proud?
Coming back from the future 15 years after, I have some things to tell you that may make it slightly easier for you, hopefully. At this age, you are extremely optimistic about life. I love this part of you, you are always looking at the bright side and the joy within you is very contagious. Don't ever lose this, not even with more complicated circumstances coming your way, know you can always have joy! It will be the very strength for you to go through difficulties. It may be difficult to find joy in all situations, but it is within you. Don't let circumstances pull you down but with joy, you can rise above them and persevere through!
Secondly, I would like to remind you to always remember your self-worth. I know you aren't too confident at this age because you think you aren't beautiful like your good friends. But hey! Do not let comparison rob away your self-worth, but let God define you of who you are: precious, beautiful, smart and vibrant. There will be people who can see your true worth through the eyes of God and will definitely truly appreciate you for who you are. Even at my age, I am still discovering and loving myself more.
Third thing of the list will be don't give up learning. Have a humble and teachable heart. There will be so many wonderful knowledge for you to discover, some will be things you may have never imagined like cooking and baking. See, I knew you would be laughing and doubting yourself: What, me? I will be cooking and baking? Haha, do not underestimate your potentials, my dear. You have yet to know who you can become!
Fourthly, start accumulating some core values that matter to you from this age onwards such as holding on to integrity, being faithful to the things you do and people who matter, always love no matter how bad hurts are, and one that I love the most will be be real and honest with yourself. Do not let the crowd you are in decide who you are going to be, but always take a step back to analyze and think with God and leaders whom you can trust. Learn to trust others and yourself, even though everyone may tell you that the world doesn't deserve trust. You can be an effective leader and also a follower, with a humble heart. You will also learn to take courage to stand for your values and beliefs. These will be the sum of your character. You may want to always fall back on this quote:
If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything. Peter Marshall
Source
Take courage my heart and stay steadfast, my soul! Own up your decisions once you make them and stay through with them.
Fifthly, learn to pull down some defenses and also set healthy boundaries for your emotional health. Trust your instincts more when you meet people. There is just so much a human being can bear and it is okay to acknowledge that. You do not have to live as if you owe anyone your time or resources. Be powerful and free! Some of your past may come back as flashbacks to you to make you know why you act certain way. Take it the good way and you can be restored!
Do not lose faith or lose sight of the goodness of God for He will the most faithful Person to you in all times, even if one day your loved ones may desert you. Do not chase after wealth, status and affordability until you lose your self and joy. On the other hand, farewells, regrets and disappointments will be usual in life, but it is okay. Those will realign you with reality more and more while you still chase after your dreams. You may reach different point of time to realize some ideals will be broken and it is okay. Expectations will meet reality and strike a good balance for you.
Lastly, I want to encourage you that you will turn out just fine and I will be very proud of you. As I know, you would become a lady who is more refined than now. Life will be a great teacher to you. Hope you didn't find me nagging at you, oops!
Oh yeah, one thing before I end this letter, you are going to get prettier and prettier with age. Hehe wink! So, don't worry about the braces!
Cheers and it is a pleasure talking to you again!
Much love,
31-year-old Connie
I would like to thank @cadawg for your first ever contest and your giving heart. At the age of 16, you can think of this. It is a great age you are at, almost like the crossroad of young adulthood. I am inspired to know that such a young Steemian is benefiting this community. Hope you enjoyed reading this. Bless you with grace and wisdom, bless you to go far with purposes of life and to love life!
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