4/30: Letter to myself

List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could:

1. Read your Bible. Life's instructions are in there. Pray. God can get you through anything.
2. Do not shut down emotionally or bottle things up inside. It only ends up causing you to be depressed with the weight of a few lifetimes on your shoulders or lashing out. 
3. Set boundaries. Stay strong. Just because other people are doing things does not mean you have to- people will like you for you. Protect yourself at parties. Don't let other people get your drinks, don't impair yourself to the point where you cannot even think for yourself or fight back if needed. 
4. Alcoholism runs in the family. Slow down, partying is not a solution to life's stresses. 
5. Do not be afraid of your pregnancy. Yes, you're young, but God will get you through it. Don't let the weight of that one negative decision affect your opinion of God or yourself. God loves you and forgives you, forgive yourself. 
6. Be nicer to your sister. She ends up being your best friend. She is unconditionally loving and selfless when it comes to you and your son in the future, she deserves better from us. 
7. Take everything your family says, listen, do not immediately shut down if it's not what you want to hear, even if you disagree be respectful in explaining your disagreements. 
8. Stay in school. Its so much harder to go back later in life- no time ever seems quite right. When you're in school in Minnesota, pay attention, buy your books, do the work. Study, turn in all assignments. Don't skip. It will pay off later. 
9. Enjoy the small things, football games with friends, singing in the praise team, youth group, etc. Don't take it for granted. 
10. Stop judging everyone. We are not perfect, we will never be perfect and our history is certainly flawed. Take into consideration that other people's lives may have more to it than what we see on the surface. Love others.