Happy Birthday To You…Love, Me

(We Heart It)

It’s my 29th birthday today. Crazy, right? So as a gift to myself, I made a list of the the 29 bits of advice I’d go back in time and tell myself. One can dream, yes?

1) Please understand how awesome it is that you have two horses to trot around on during your childhood instead of a 4 wheeler.

2) Buy stock in apple, Starbucks, Chick Fil A, and google. Who cares that you don’t even know what these things are yet? Trust me. Keep on the look out and do it. It’s safe to keep your money in savings until this opportunity presents itself instead of liquidating your savings account on that Super Nintendo.

3) Your little sister is actually one of the coolest people you will ever know. Hang out with her.

4) When your mom offers to give you cooking lessons, TAKE THEM!!

5) Grades? Everybody is lying. They really don’t matter that much.

6) Don’t let the fact that you’re a horrible dancer make you self conscious….get out there and shake it, sister!! It’s more fun anyway.

7) Self confidence is way sexier than a perfect tan, fake nails, or those jeans from the Buckle that you just can’t live without.

8)Spend a lot of time getting to know Grandma Edith. She won’t be around much longer and you’ll wish you had. Speaking of grandmothers, take sewing lessons from Grandma Peveto like….now.

9) You’ll always be super awful at math and your life will be just fine. Pssst….you’ll pass college algebra the third time you take it. Hang in there.

10) On your 29th birthday, you’ll still be single. I know, I know, it’s against everything you had planned for yourself but it’s true. Oh yea, none of the boys up to this time were worth crying over. It’s ok to dwell in the sadness of a lost relationship for one week and one week only. Any other days and you’re just being silly. (No offense, but you gotta trust me on this.)

11) As much as you want it to happen, you will not marry Jonathan Taylor Thomas. *gasp*

12) Yes, you’re a little ‘different’ compared to those around you but one day you’ll realize how thankful you are for that.

13) Don’t listen to the meanies on the playground….reading is sexy. Keep it up, bookworm.

14) Those lavender glasses are awful and a bad idea. Yes, they happen to match the unicorn sweater you’re currently wearing but remember you’ll be stuck with those glasses for a few years. Yea…think about that.

15) That whole ‘only hang out with the popular crowd’ rule is a load of crap. All people are equal and there’s something amazing about every single person you come in contact with. I challenge you to find it, regardless of what lunch table they’re sitting at.

16) Don’t stop playing piano and violin just because you aren’t perfect at them. That’s no reason to quit. I would also pick up an acoustic guitar while you’re at it. You’ll stop playing any type of sport right after highschool but your love of music will continue to grow.

17) Be extra careful on those gym stairs when you’re headed to the very first highschool pep rally. I’m trying to help you avoid one of your most embarrassing moments. Walk slooooowly and remember: you have on a tiny skirt and slippery jellie sandles.

18) Journal often and actually keep them this time.

19) Love God because of who He is and not because that’s what you think you’re supposed to do. He loves you because He created you and this acceptance is not based on how good you are. Oh yea, don’t be self righteous about your ‘good morals’. It’s only because of grace that you even have them.

20) Hey, I still (to this day) think you’re pretty.

21) Stop speeding!! Yea, that’s not going to happen so let me warn you about those five tickets you’re going to get…..watch out for school zones, neighborhoods, and those long trips on I20 when you’re driving home from college. Also, when an ambulance has it’s lights on that means to STOP COMPLETELY!! Don’t even think about racing him to that on ramp.

22) Keep those Jnco jeans! Mainly because your friends will ask you to prove you ever wore them.

23) Cultivate your creativity and don’t stifle it! Who cares what anybody has to say about it? I’m serious. It doesn’t matter in the least bit.

24) Don’t spend any extra time worrying about that job opportunity right out of school. You don’t get it because there was something better for your future. Dry those tears, little one. I promise it will be ok.

25) Your heart will be broken in college but don’t let the fear and bitterness from that situation stay on you. It’s far better to let go and look ahead when those things happen. Far, far better. Besides, trust me when I say you were much better off.

26) Learn the discipline of prayer early on. It’s a beautiful and powerful gift.

27) College really will be as amazing as you hoped it would be but…that starts once you get over being homesick and wishing you could still be with all of your friends from highschool. Oh, speaking of your friends? You’ll be surrounded with great ones. Let them know you love them often.

28) You have the coolest parents…seriously. Be eternally grateful they didn’t let you go on that senior trip to Cancun but instead took you to Hawaii. Yea, you lucked out in a major way.

29) You won’t grow up to be a waterfall, zoo keeper, teacher, vet, librarian, fashion design major, researcher of the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot, or a race car driver (even though you will want to be all of those things)…you’ll grow up to be something better than all of those combined.

Bonus: Yes, you’re pretty swell but not above anybody in this world. Serve others often and never forget you were created for a purpose other than your own happiness. Happiest of birthday wishes. Here’s to another year and more pathways to explore.

(We Heart It)