A friend of mine made a Facebook status asking,
“What would you say to your 19-23 year old self if you could?” Some people had the logical responses: save,
listen to your parents, and give warnings to friends who we lost too early in
life. So this got me thinking…if I could
travel back in time, what would I say to my 19-year-old self?
First off, at 19, I was a sophomore in
college. I would look myself in the face
and say, “Buy the bikini!” I was never
one that was much on two-piece bathing suits.
I maybe owned two binkies in my entire life? If I could go back in time, I’d defiantly
tell myself to rock the bikini and don’t be afraid to show off what you’ve got! Because today, I would kill to have my
19-year-old body back- you know, because I didn’t have to watch what I ate or
work for it!
I would tell my 10-year younger self that those
college friends I think I have wouldn’t be around when I’m 29. I’ll explain that you’ll try to Facebook
friend them, email them, text them- and you’ll get nothing in return. I’d tell myself that out of that ‘group of
friends’ there will only be one person who you still talk to from time to time,
but pick right back up where you left off the last time you met. I’d tell my younger self to invest more time
into that relationship and tell the others thanks for the support you gave me
during my college years.
I would tell myself that when I’m 23 you’d
marry your high school sweetheart and have the most amazing wedding you could
have dreamed of. I’d tell myself to
spend more on my wedding dress, and nix a couple of people from the invite
list. Don’t worry about inviting
everyone just because you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’d tell myself to be a bridezilla, because
it’s the only time in a girl’s life when you’re allowed to be stubborn,
materialistic, and self-centered.
I’d tell my younger self that the ride of life
is going to get harder. I’d have to tell
myself to cherish the time I have at home with my family- because being a
grown-up and paying a mortgage is not fun!
I’d tell myself that I’m going to lose some very important people in my
life, but I will get through those losses with family and about five real-true friends. I’d tell myself that there will be a time in
my life where I turn my back on God and there are some really dark and scary
days ahead without Him allowed in my life.
BUT, I would say to my 19 year old self that once
you own up to the situation where you let go of God, and come back to Him- you’ll
be one of the strongest women you know, you’ll be one of the most happiest
women you know, and you’ll be the most blessed women you know. I’d tell myself that I’m not perfect- that I
have a son who I get to stay at home with, that I don’t fix my hair or put
make-up on much anymore, or that I have no real clothes to wear;
The Lord is good in letting us make choices-
good, bad…right, wrong. Without The
Lord, I don’t think this 29 year old woman would have been able to sit here and
reflect on how blessed I have been over the last ten years of my life.
So…to my Facebook friend- PJ! Thanks for your status update- it made me
reflect on how good my life is, and how much I still need Jesus to this
day. Now, my question to you all of you
who read this, what would you say to your 10 year younger self if you could sit
and talk with you?
