Life is not what you thought it would be…
Dear 18 year old me,
Sorry. You haven’t started your fairy tale life yet with prince charming, but there are a few things to report on:
1) You are living the big city life.
2) You did land a great job.
3) Life is not what you thought it would be. At all.
Let’s expand on point # 3
He’s never going to be the man you need him to be. MOVE ON. Or wait 4 years and get a screwed up head about relationships.
Keep loving people as a top priority. ‘Grades’ will not drive 20 miles to get you a Starbucks when you’re roasted by emotions.
You do not have God figured out. At all. And you need him much more than you think. Invest in that relationship as much as you can.
You are happiest when you think about yourself the least.
Give people grace. You screw up all the time.
Hug your family every chance you get.
Take a writing class.
Don’t spread yourself to thin.
Keep your ‘grumpiness’ as a check for how much Jesus time you have had lately.
Stop wearing Abercrombie. Seriously.
Hear grandma’s stories.
When you find people who make you funnier, keep them around.
Dream big.
Loving people hurts. Pain follows love. LOVE the cuss out of people every chance you get. You never know how many chances you will have.
Life is hard. Take stock in that. And know that joy comes in the morning.
You’re doing pretty good, but the sooner you can realize that life is not about you, the sooner we can start changing the world.
Love,
The more mature and beautiful you
(Submitted by Michaja, age 27)
To submit your own letter to yourself at 18, click here.
