6/30/2017 3 Comments 19 Lessons I Learned By 19Keepin' it casual in this post bc turnin' nineteen does that to a person. When I say "person", I mean someone who isn't me bc I've been casual for my whole life. Casual is my middle name. At least I wish it was. Anyways, here are just some of the things that I've learned while looking far too young for my age. 1. You think you know what you want, but you don't. (shout-out to fellow young people everywhere)
After reading this first one, I'm just going to assume that it either insulted you or confirmed a truth that you already believe. With that being said, people change and plans change. You may find that your current favorite song ends up making you want to bang your head against the wall in the next month. Or that you've tried something new and now, you can't imagine your life without it. Bc that's how life goes. And that's alright. We're not meant to know/understand ourselves fully while we're still human. So don't let people pressure you into figuring out what you want before you're ready. You don't have to know right now. Just live a life of passion and conviction and what you truly want will become obvious. But also, don't expect the things you like now to satisfy you forever. Bc whether you're encouraged or offended by it, whether you believe it or not, God knows you best. Your needs, your wants, your dreams. Not only does He know what's best for you, He genuinely wants it for you too! So, just relax. (Easier said than done, I know.) 2. Who you wish you could be isn't who you were created to be. It's too easy to allow the cultural and societal environment determine who you should be and who you want to be. But don't let them. (Again, easier said than done, I know.) Being the "you" the Designer originally intended is a look that nobody but you can achieve. 3. Be a friend to everyone. Now notice I didn't insert "best" before the word friend there. This just means that, in my experience, getting to know people who talk, look, dress, perceive, and believe differently than you can be one of the coolest, most humbling learning experiences you'll ever have. Don't put restrictions and requirements on the types of people you allow to "sit at your table". Life doesn't have to imitate Mean Girls. Diversity is beautiful. Embrace it. 4. Stop believing in "random acts of kindness". (shout-out to fellow Jesus-following people everywhere) Jesus didn't perform an unplanned, aimless, random act of kindness for you on the cross. So cross out the "random" in that phrase. Be intentional with the who, the what, & the why of serving others. 5. Singing and dancing is not overrated. I'm one of those people that can't help but sing under their breath or in their head everywhere they go. I'm also one of those people who really wishes the rest of my life could be just like High School Musical. Do a little song and dance once in a while. It never gets old. 6. You are never too old for naps. Jesus took naps (check out Mark 4:38 & Luke 8:23). This means that all humans should be PRO-NAPS. 7. Caring is cool. Enough of that emo, angsty teen act that proclaims how much you hate the world and the people living in it. It's cliche and immature. Which for those people, are two words they don't want to be labelled as. Showing an interest in and a compassion for things and for people is not something to be ashamed of. 8. Eat your favorite foods at least once a month. Just go for it. Treat yo' self. It don't matter. 9. Laugh at your own jokes. One laugh is better than none. 10. Preach the Gospel to yourself everyday. It's the reason we can live each day freely and joyously. It's like giving yourself a pep talk. 11. Remember to thank God for who He is, not just for what He's done. "Jesus is not a means to an end; He IS the end." -- David Platt 12. Don't be too afraid to make the first move. This refers to more than just dating relationships. The same mindset also applies to asking for help, inviting others, making suggestions/decisions/plans, apologizing/forgiving, the list goes on. As small as these actions are, they can change your life. 13. God doesn't focus on vanity and reputation. So why do we? The obvious answer: Bc we're human. We can't help but be all about ourselves. As much as we don't want to admit it, we care about how people view us. Our social media profiles prove that. We value self-promotion and materialism more than God's glory and the reward of salvation. But cute clothes and cool shoes don't last. The latest technology doesn't last. Your online reputation doesn't last. The legacies of the most talented in their craft won't even last. Don't waste your time on the temporary. It doesn't deserve your attention. 14. You don't know it all and you never will. Again, I hate to break it to ya but we are merely distant observers of everything that happens to us. We can't know every side to every story/issue. As Jon Bloom says, "The greater our distance, the greater our ignorance." Only God has access to the "big picture". Don't be so quick to judge. Think before you speak/post. 15. When in doubt, pray it out. Prayer is much more powerful than we give it credit for. Having one-on-one conversations with a best friend who will never get tired of hearing our voice is such a blessing. Since "the man upstairs" already knows what we're thinking, prayer is more for us than for Him. But what we pray for often shows Him what we care about most. 16. Just say no. Coming from a former pushover, agreeing to do things that make you uncomfortable or compromise your integrity leave you living in regret. And that's no way to live. You can't please everybody, so PLEASE stop trying. 17. Going solo isn't a bad thing. Whether it be to the bathroom, a concert, the movie theater, a party, or eating a meal, "me" time is healthy and can sometimes be just as fun as hanging out with your friends. Who cares if it's socially unacceptable? 18. "Comparison is the thief of joy." -- Theodore Roosevelt This is probably one of the most truthful statements any president has ever said (yikes!). I've noticed over the past couple of years that the moments when I get the most upset or discouraged is when I'm comparing my life to someone else's. I believe that this is one of the enemy's most effective strategies that he uses to distract us from focusing on the kingdom of God. Don't let the devil bum you out. 19. I'm not ready for adulthood. Honestly, I don't think I ever was. When you're young, it's difficult to believe adults when they say "the grown-up thing" isn't worth all of the hype. But then you actually grow up and are suddenly faced with major responsibilities that are so new and life-changing while everyone else just sits back and expects you to know what you're doing. But you don't. I'm starting to think that most adults just live life faking it until they make it. So I guess that means that I've been an adult for years now. That explains the lower back pain. To the ones who made it to the end of this, you rock. Or roll, whichever you prefer. Or both if you're really feelin' yourself. You deserve it. Only because you spent 10 minutes of your life reading this crazy, long thing. It's all your fault. Thanks a lot. Goodbye.
3 Comments
Stef Kurtz
7/3/2017 08:02:25 am
This is wonderful; great words of wisdom! And the wonderful thing is that you can add something new every year ❤
Reply
Dana Hoffmann
7/3/2017 09:05:04 pm
I LOVE YOU!!! 💗💗💗
Reply
Jess
7/5/2017 01:04:08 pm
LOVE YOU !!! Leave a Reply. |