things I have learned in eighteen years || list

 things I have learned in eighteen years || things I am still learning

 

+ "I wonder how many people I've looked at all my life and never seen." -John Steinbeck

+Always love, even if the person has given you every reason not to. Maybe one day you will be the reason they know what it is to not give up on someone

+Your pain is important and a vital part of your story. Just take your time, all the time you need, but do not stay in that place of darkness, where even the light of day hurts your tear filled eyes

+When sad: make your favorite tea in your favorite cup. Eat dark chocolate. Paint. Write. Curl up with your favorite blanket and read a book. Study the Psalms. Go on a walk or hike, and feel the wind rushing down to greet you. Notice the people who step out of their schedule and daily life to tell you they love you

+Stay in contact with the people you want in your life, and take a moment to tell them you care

+Do not ever change who you are just to please someone

+Christian songs and books are a huge encouragement for this path, but don't let them replace your personal time with God

+People say a lot of things, more than half of which have nothing to do with you

+Watch movies that make you a better person, view the world a little differently, and open your eyes to live an inspired life

+Don't ever underestimate the power of a mask. You might never know that the person next to you is slowly fading away

+You will feel burned out, and like you have given everything you have, but there is a storehouse of strength in His name 

+Read often, and not just fiction, but memoirs and stories that breathe of hope and life and of the whispers and roars of the heart

+There will always be someone who is better than you, but that is not your battle. Your fight is with the person you were yesterday and only that determines whether you win or lose

+Pay attention to what is going on around you: the new decorations in the window of your favorite shop, the old couple holding hands and laughing in front of you, the way the ice cream tastes, and how the sky looks just before it rains

+Don't pretend to know everything about somebody

+We are all insecure

+ "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." -2 Cor. 12:15 wow, oh wow.

+Do the things you are afraid of, and the things you are not good at 

+Eat less sugar (this is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. whaa?)

+ Read numerous quotes everyday, and be inspired 

+Let the struggles of life change you, and make you pliable, understanding of others, softer, and give you a big heart that does not give up

+ Make time for the ones that count. People will always know how important they are by how much time you give them

+It is okay if you like sad songs, that does not mean you are sad 

+Be humble

+Read about what is going on in the world. What would you do about Afghanistan? Think about things and develop your own opinion

+Dance, it's good for the heart (quite literally, oh gosh)

+ Find people who feel the same way you do about things. I don't mean find the ones who like the same things you do or have the same opinions, but that your hearts are in tune to the same rhythm, and you draw inspiration from the same things, and think the same things

+That girl in class that really rubs you the wrong way might just be a friend in waiting. Give her a chance

+Heartbreak is a very real thing and you should never minimize it. Just know that you will love again, I know it does not feel like it, but you will, when the timing is right and when it all falls into place. The smoke will settle. You are beautiful and one day someone will love the words you never speak and will take the time to get to know all the people you are inside, and all the things you try to hide

+Realize that you will not understand what is going on, and you will wish you can. It's okay
+Make to-do lists for yourself, and lists in general
+Don't simply say that you notice someone is sad, but say why you think they are sad, what you see in their expression, and how you can help. It builds observation, understanding, and a keen interest in other people
+Make a decision that you believe in and stick to it, but be open to new ideas
+Love your parents. They spent a good portion of their lives teaching you how to live, survive and to become who you are, and they have a lot of wisdom if you would take the time to ask
+Pray often. About how you stubbed your toe and it hurts, about how you don't love like you should, about being afraid of the dark, about how you really need a new pair of jeans but no store carries ones that fit. Pray about details, pray about requests, just talk to God 
+Always keep a look out for the people who sit in the back, the ones who are quiet, the ones who have trouble speaking, and the ones who are lost in a book when everyone else is talking. They are the people with the loudest minds. Get to know them
+Be kind, be kind, be kind. No matter how frustrating the situation is, no matter how misunderstood you are, no matter how unkind they were
+Take time to listen, not to answer, but to hear what the other person is saying
+People who are the most popular and are constantly surrounded by a thousand adoring fans and friends, are often the loneliest. Don't let it fool you
+Growing up is not what we thought it was when we were children
+It's okay to be afraid, but don't let fear paralyze you from doing the things you were meant to do
+Thank your teachers
+Forgiveness and trusting again are too different matters. Don't confuse them
+Loving anyone or anything is to risk having your heart broken 
+Don't ever put someone in a box. People are not always what they seem and there are paradoxes and anomalies all around

picture by marcia