To My 16 Year Old Self

The other day I heard "If I Could Write A Letter To Me" by Brad Paisley and I started thinking about what I would say if I could write a letter to me at 16. Here's what I'd say:

Dear 16-Year-Old Bethany,

YOU ARE NOT FAT! I know you are not as "thin" as all the other girls, but you are in no way, shape, or form considered fat. Now, check back in about 12 years, and yes, you will be fat. It would be great if you could just keep the weight off so 28-year-old Bethany wouldn't be having to work her butt off to lose what she's gained the past 12 years. I digress. You are letting your weight stop you from doing so many fun things. DON'T! You are not fat!

Hailey & Tracey did not give permission to be pictured on my
blog - hopefully they won't care :)

Have more self confidence and less fear of rejection. Try out for stuff. Who cares if you don't make the team?! You will look back one day and wish you had been more involved in high school. Believe it or not, you will actually miss high school one day and want to go back. If you want to be on the colorguard, try out for it! If you want to be on the danceline, go for it! Actually, don't, because you can't dance. Also, don't be too snooty for band. Be on the drumline - it seems like it would be really cool! Stop missing out on life because you are too scared to do anything and because you think you're fat.

Don't settle. (Sidenote here: I am in no way saying I settled for my husband. I am confident I ended up with the right person and that God was in control the entire time.) You are pretty, funny, and smart and you deserve the best in life. Don't date the first guy who comes along that's interested in you just because you don't think anyone else will. It will not be the end of the world that you don't have a boyfriend when all of your friends do.

Sure, things may seem hard now, but you will love your life! You end up having the cutest little boy you've ever seen and loving him with a love you've never experienced. You will settle down with that boy you've just started dating. Warning - the two of you will have some rough times. You'll both get laid off over the years, money will be tight, your house won't be the house you dream of. But you'll keep loving each other and will love each other more because of it. You'll have that sweet little boy to make the days better. You will see God work some absolute miracles along the way. Be nice to your parents because they'll help you out in more ways than you can imagine.

Here is my best piece of advice: stop looking ahead and enjoy life NOW. Yes, you will go to college; yes, you will graduate from college; yes, you will get married, yes; you will have a baby; yes, you will have a job you love. But stop looking forward to those things and love the life you're living now. You will only be 16 right now and you will never get these days back. Soak up every single minute and stop worrying about the future.

Sincerely,

28-Year-Old Bethany