Advice to the Younger Me

I often think about my adolescent years, those early teenage years where I thought I knew it all but really knew nothing. Sometimes I look at pictures of myself and visualize myself talking to that that young girl. What would the “Present Me” tell the “Younger or the Past me? What wise counsel would I tell that 14, 15 year old know-it-all? Here are just five of the things that I would talk to her about.

Photo Credit: Zeke Kamm

1. I can just picture myself staring into my younger self and simply say: Wait till you’re older, your thoughts and ideas will change. That boy you like now, in ten, twenty years you will be saying “What was I thinking?!” I can just picture the younger me saying “You don’t understand, you’re old; you’re supposed to say those things”. And with a smirk, I would reply: “You just wait and see!”

2. I would encourage this young girl to don’t look to fit in the popular crowds of school because later she will discover that popularity is not that big of a deal, it's what you become later in life that really matters. Believe it or not, life continues after high school.

3. I would advise this teenage girl to listen to her parents, no matter how strict they may be, always cherish their words of wisdom. She may not understand it at the moment because she wants to do what everyone else is doing but one day she will thank them for their guidance in her life. Their parents "No's" will save her from a lot of grief and mistakes in the future.

4. Take “church” serious.  I know you may think it may be boring at times and you would prefer to do something else. You may think that church is for old and boring people and you will have time for it later but thank your parents for instilling that foundation of faith in your life. As my younger me may be rolling her eyes in boredom, I would continue to say: Understand that you don’t have a religion with a whole bunch of restrictions, rather it’s a relationship with an unrestricted and unconditional love with your Creator. The more you know Jesus, the more discover the wonderful plan He has for you. You were created with a purpose; not simply to go to school, graduate and go to college but for something bigger and greater than life itself. God wants to reveal it to you, but you must enter into relationship with Him first.

5. And finally, I would tell my younger self this: I know you’re super ambitious, and let me tell you, over the years the ambition has grown. Trust me, this is you in adulthood and you’re still striving for more but let me forewarn you of one thing; your plans will not always fall according to plan. Your journal looks great and I see how you’ve mapped out your life and it’s pretty impressive but you will soon come to learn that many things that you’ve written on your journal will not happen. But I see many things that I am now doing that are not written down in your journal. Why? Because you had NO idea that you would be accomplishing these things, it was only a dream that you never thought possible. So, I’m excited for your future because your future is my present. And as excited as I am for you, I also know that there will be many heartbreaks and tears down the road but I am here to assure you that everything will be okay, you are a strong young girl that will develop into a strong, brave woman. Just know that it's part of the plan, simply a story in your journey. There will be many times where you will be upset at God, life, and people; understandably so, you’re young and inexperienced. You don’t understand what I now understand but I promise you, I promise you baby girl that even with all of the ups & downs and highs & lows, it will all be worth it at the end. I promise!

The “Present Me” then tells the “Past Me”: I hope my advice has been very helpful to you. Trust me, you will need these words to carry you on in your journey.

I have to go for now because the “Future Me” has some wise council and advice for me as well. She is in her 50's and has a few words of encouragement for me because she knows exactly what I am going through. She just wants to reassure me that everything will be aright and that what I am going through right now is part of the plan, and yet another story in my journey. Just as I have reassured you that you will be alright, the older me wants to reassure me that I will be alright.

This young girl is filled with such great hope because she has seen a glimpse of what her future will look like. She then smiles and confidently whispers, everything will be alright!

And throughout her journey as a young girl, she held on to these promises:

1. A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. –Proverbs 16:9

2. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. –Isaiah 55:8-9

3. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. –Jeremiah 29:11

4. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.-Philippians 1:6

5. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him. –Psalm 37:4-5

 

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!
Landy Perez-Feliciano ♥