Why didn't anyone tell me to treasure my youth?! For as long as i can remember, I wanted to be older. When I was 8, I wanted to be 12. When i was 12, I wanted to be 16. And so on. I always wanted to be something I wasn't. Do something I couldn't. Be someone I wasn't. I envied people. Probably more than I should have. Especially in high school. I never stood up for what I believed in. I never did what I wanted to do. And the funny thing is... I have no idea why?!
I saw the phrase on the sign of a Lutheran church the other day and it struck me. It said... "If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything." this couldn't be more true. I know, because I did just this. I wasted away my youth worrying about others. Wondering what they thought, how I looked to them. I never worried about ME.
For the first time in my life, I can say, that I do stand for something and it takes a lot for me to fall for anything. Except maybe chocolate. Hee hee! It feels good to be me. It feels powerful to stand for something. It feels good to teach my children to be themselves NO MATTER WHAT!
For the first time in my life, I feel good in my own skin. And that means the world to me!
Mara had an experience this past week when we were on our family vacation. Let's just say, there was a fashion show, a minor wardorbe malfunction and one very upset little girl.
Mara learned a very big lesson that night. I was proud of her and told her that no one should be able to tell her what to do. I hope she listens. I know I didn't when I was her age. She is growing so fast. I only hope that she will remember who she is. She is beautiful inside and out and has already shown more courage and strength in 7 1/2 years than I have in my 34 years. Trials and opportunities will come and go, but as long as you have something to believe in, and faith that it will happen, and the courage to be yourself, you cannot fail.
I FINALLY get that!
