I turned 18 this past Friday and wanted to be a little reflective about my life so far. God has blessed me so much throughout my short life, and I am so thankful each and everyday for everything that He is done and provided for me. I have learned to love and to laugh, with my whole heart. I have learned to say no. 18 doesn't turn me into a wise old sage; it is only the tip of the iceberg of my life. So here are 18 things I learned before I turned 18.
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1. You never ever need an excuse to take a break from the world and just have you time. No matter what stress you’re under, your health is always more important than any schoolwork. Also naps are so important.
2. Love your mom. And your dad. Always. They do so much for you and they are working their butts off everyday for you. Never fail to tell them I love you or give them a hug.
3. Never lie to your mom. She finds everything out.
4. You will get over that girl whose friendship you thought was irreplaceable. You will eventually be able to pick up the match, burn your bridges and rise from the ashes.
5. You will learn about yourself more in these years than you will ever learn in school.
6. Take time to relish in good moments, and try as often as you can to laugh until your belly hurts.
7. Be brutally honest when you need to be. Not everything needs a brutal answer, but never hesitate to speak up for what you believe.
8. That being said, when speaking, think about what you’re saying, and make sure it comes off as kind, and with good intentions.
9. Never ever fail to be kind. Being smart will get you places but being kind will help you understand the world. Be kind, always.
10. If someone doesn’t like you, don’t take it personally. Take that and grow and learn and being the best you is always the best revenge.
11. God is worthy in the storm, and He is worthy in the sun. Never forget that. No matter what, trust in His purpose and His ways. He knows what He’s doing.
12. If you’re sad, nothing helps as much as eating a tub of ice cream, and singing Taylor Swift at the top of your lungs. Scream if you need to during the bridge of Out of the Woods.
13. Everyone is going through something, and it’s tough for everyone, even when it doesn’t seem so. Be slow to anger and quick to be kind.
14. Don’t be quick to make promises. Never promise anything that you can’t do. Promises are only meaningful if they are made in small amounts, and if you keep them. Otherwise, you lose your accountability, and you lose the meaning of a promise. Treat it like Snape treated the Unbreakable Vow.
15. If you aren’t able to achieve your expectations, just reach for the highest you can reach and try to be satisfied. Life doesn’t call for perfection, and the journey of the reach is more important than however high you reach.
16. Make friends with people who make you feel good about yourself, people who are willing to drop whatever they’re doing and make sure you’re okay. People who make you happy and make you laugh and smile. Then you will know that you have friends who you can count on.
17. Stop spending so much time looking at that darn screen. Go live. Leave your phone at home.
18. Never ever fail to look and seek the beauty around you. The curve of your mom’s smile. The diligence of your brother. The warmth of your sister. The strength of your father. The slow but steady sunrise, the never ending crash of the waves, the flight of the birds, and the whistle in the wind. God has made all things beautiful, including you, and the most wonderful thing in life is to look around you and soak it all in.
ardently, jess
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