Day 5: 10 Things I Would Tell 16-Year-Old Me

In a way, this post goes off of my previous one: Have You Lived Today? If I were given the opportunity to give my 16-Year-Old Self some advice, it would be about how to live life the way I would want and not be held down by other’s opinions. The 16-Year-Old Me was bullied in school. Badly. As a result, I missed quite a number of opportunities to grow as an individual and flourish. So, without further ado: 10 things I would tell the 16-year-old Me:

1. Go to church. Life is going to get rough. You will lose loved ones, have your feelings hurt quite a number of times, and get unbelievably stressed out. Don’t fear though, strengthen your relationship with God now to help you through future struggles.

2. Though you may think that Riley is the Bee’s-Knees…he’s not. He may be the cutest boy in school and you may have the biggest crush on him but believe me when I tell you, the moment you fall in love, you’ll laugh at how insignificant this crush is.

3. Stop fearing the word “Yes.” When the community service club at your new school has trips across state, don’t say no. Live a little. Take a risk. You know how to take care of yourself. Meet new people and have a little lot of fun!

4. Don’t cry when you finally move away. The people that come to your going away party won’t even talk to you in six months. You’ll be just a faint memory and an occasional wall post on Facebook. In two years, the people that were “so upset” you were moving will barely remember you. But Kay and Dev will. They’ll still talk to you and care. But don’t cry for them. You’ll see them again and it’ll be like you never left. I promise.

5. Help out around the house. Mom has a lot on her shoulders. Try to take some things off her plate. She doesn’t know it yet, but her new job is going to require her to be at work way more than you can imagine. Help her out. Don’t make her do it on her own.

6. Don’t trust so easily. Trust is something delicate. Someone once described it to me like a piece of paper — once it is crumpled up, you can never straighten it out the same way again. Trust is something that should be earned, not handed out.

7. Do all you can in school. Continue to learn. Never stop. Take some electives. Branch out and explore new things.

8. Stay in sports. Whether it be coaching or playing, stay involved. When you’re older you’re going to miss the feeling of adrenaline pulsating through you when you run down the court. Don’t get lazy, be passionate.

9. LEARN SPANISH. Stay in Spanish, you idiot.

10. Love. Love unconditionally, Sara. Expect the best out of people. Help them when they’re down. Teach, do not judge. Care about people in a way society is slowly forgetting.

11. Never Quit. Live, Sara. Live. Stop being afraid. Be fearless. Don’t let fear control you. If you’re interested in something, pursue it. Milk life for all that it’s worth and then some. These experiences don’t come often, they are unique and will provide countless memories for you to look back on and smile.

Now it’s your turn: what are some things you would have told the 16-Year-Old You if given the chance? Would you say anything at all? Sound off in the comments below!

Have You Lived Today?

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’. – Erma Bombeck

Today I went to lunch with my Mom. We got into this very intense conversation about life and how we think it should be lived. My Mom thought that she hadn’t ever really done anything exciting with her life. She began to reflect back and I pointed out that yes, she has in fact done some pretty spectacular things. She’s made bold, life changing decisions. She’s pursued her passions and made some great memories on the way.

It got me to thinking, When I’m her age, what am I going to reflect back on and smile about? Right now I feel like everyone my age is getting their life started. They’ve moved across country to a new place, they go on vacations, they do whatever they want without worry. I recently ran into an old classmate from high school and he asked me what I’d been up to, Oh, just the usual — going to school and working. When I asked him the question you know what he told me? My buddy and I are moving out to LA to pursue our DJing. We leave in two weeks! Yes, he was leaving. Just him and a friend. He packed up all of his belongings into a few boxes, said goodbye to his parents and left.

It got me to thinking. What am I doing? I’m in school and working my butt off. I eat, sleep, go to school, and hang out with Abraham. I love school — I love learning, and I love Abraham to pieces. But I feel like I don’t do anything. I want to be able to look back and say that I lived during my 20s. I don’t want my only answer to “What did you do when you were in your 20s?” to be, I went to school. 

This is the time when I am not tied down to one place with kids and a career. I am free. I am me. I want to live it. I want to experience everything I can.

My goal? I want to learn. About everything. That is one of my greatest joys in life – learning. I feel like this world is filled to the brim with lessons, experiences, and challenges. So much so that there isn’t physically enough time to deal with it all.

But I want to. I want to spend my life learning, not just from textbooks and lectures, but from people, through experiences. I want to soak up everything I can. I want to use everything I have to propel myself through my life. Never stopping, just experiencing.

I’m tired of just sitting idly while my life flies by. Lately, I feel like the weeks are just speeding up and the birthdays are coming more frequently. It’s making me realize that you only have one shot at this life. Why should you just sit around, lazy, when you could be out living it?

So here it goes. Time for a change. Who’s with me?

Day 4: Describe Your Relationship With Your Parents

 

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12

My Dad and I don’t exactly have the strongest relationship. We butt heads quite a bit. He’s very hard-headed and stubborn. He’s sarcastic yet very quiet. It’s unfortunate for the both of us, as he is the only Dad I’m ever going to have. We’re just…complete strangers who live together. My Mother tries and tries to make up the difference. She does very well at filling the gaps but it’s just not the same as being Daddy’s Little Girl. I only hope and pray that my future husband will be able to fill the void I’ve been left with and do for my children what my Dad didn’t.

My Mother is my role model. She is the woman I aspire to be like as I progress through life. She is someone who constantly gives without selfish expectations. She, like many mothers, constantly puts her children and their needs light-years ahead of her own. She’s the woman who taught me to respect without judgement, to love unconditionally, and to always strive to do my best. She gave me my great work ethic and my love of sci-fi movies (the ones with the big, mutant bugs and animals). She taught me to love others and treat them as I’d like to be treated. She held me when I cried, calmed me when I was angry, and congratulated me when I succeeded. She sat front row in every basketball game throughout my 10 years playing and coaching. You could always hear her voice above everyone else’s, “Body check ’em Sara!” She is a wonderful woman. She’s done so much for me and the only way I can ever dream of repaying her is to grow into the woman she’s taught me to be.