As I celebrate turning 17 today, I’m also reflecting on what I’ve learned about myself and being a young lady in this social, competitive, and busy world. Here’s 7 things that I would want to share with my 10 year old self ( & you all) if I could.
1. The very best thing you can be is authentic
At the end of the day it’s not being smart, rich, athletic, pretty, or even kind that will leave you feeling the most confident. It’s when you walk into a room and you are the most real, honest, genuine, and authentic version of yourself that you will leave the most comfortable. So if you can be one thing in this world be real.
2. You can’t expect to become something if you aren’t doing the things to make you that something.
When I started my blog I had lots of beautiful people in my life who loved and supported my goal and my mission, but I also had a lot of people whose first reaction was negativity and judgement. I knew that not many sixteen year old's build, manage, and content create for their own personal blog. I know that it seems like a really big project or dream for a young small town girl. I also know that you don’t get anywhere if you don’t get up and get to work. You can’t say your gonna be a CEO if you don’t have a business idea, product plan, or brand in mind. While I may have started young, with little following, and minimal start up resources, waiting to start would only delay my success. Taylor Swift didn’t wait till she was famous to start singing. You dress, act, represent, and work for the job you want, not the job you have. So ignore the kids that call you crazy for dedicating countless hours to this little project, the people that tell you it’s not your place to try and content create, the students that giggle when someone calls you a “blogger”. Their following isn’t increasing 19% in 6 months. Their brand hasn’t even begun to be built yet. They simply don’t have the vision you do, and that’s okay. So be focused, confident, and driven, because every interaction you make is a form of branding. Be proud of the way you brand yourself.
3. Find your tribe and love them hard.
Not everyone in this world is gonna be in your corner. There will be plenty in your circle, more than enough with opinions, and thousands probably watching. It’s the people who cheer for you when no one is watching; It’s the friends who make your dreams their dreams too; It’s the family that dives into all of your adventures head first with you, whom you should surround yourself with. In life you will meet people who you automatically click with somewhere deep in your heart and mind. It’s not always the amount of time you’ve been friends with someone that is a true representation of the depth of friendship that exists there. So find the people who love your passions, dreams, and goals as much as they do their own and love them with your whole heart.
4. Your momma and sister will become your best friends someday.
She may be the devil right now, but I assure you someday she’ll be the person who you tell everything. She may be too cool to be friends with you right now but I assure you someday she’ll let you tag along. They may be family who you are forced to spend time with right now, but eventually you’ll be sad when they aren’t home. They may be your toughest critic, but they will also be your biggest supporters. They may drive you absolutely crazy… but they are absolutely crazy for you. The faster you learn to love them the better.
5. You can not stop shining your light because someone else doesn’t like how bright it is.
This kind of connects to point 3. Not everyone who is in your circle will be in your corner. So if someone in your circle can’t handle your success they obviously aren’t in your corner. You can not hold back your work ethic, drive, or talent, in order to make someone else more comfortable with theirs. You should never feel bad for your wins in life because someone else is offended by them. If someone doesn’t take your win as their win they have no place in your life. You must keep doing you as boldly, beautifully and often as possible.
6. Love the busy.
The long nights where you do your homework in the car. The early mornings you spend sleeping in the car. The rush, and rush, and rush some more. Love all of it. The never eating at home. The living out of a suitcase. The messy room you leave behind. Love every piece of it. They are all symbols of the work you are doing. They may exhaust you, but I promise when you look back at those softball tournaments you played at three in the morning, those four hour road trips to pageants, the sweaty basketball shoes, the constantly missing school, you’ll see pride, passion, love, friendships, and memories that would never make it in a slow world. You are molding yourself to be adaptable, diverse, and durable, so love the busy that is making you better. It’s making you the best version of yourself and you will appreciate the down time that much more.
7. Be enthusiast.
We get to make a choice everyday about how we are going to live that day. We get to make a choice every moment about how we are going to live in that moment. So if you choose to live fearlessly enthusiastic about what is to come, you will never waste a minute of your life which is so dearly precious on negativity. If it’s something as simple as getting groceries, be happy that you have the ability to do that. If you’re gonna travel, love and be in every single second of it. If it’s fashion, be passionately dedicated. If it’s education, advocate and tell others. In everything you do in life be an enthusiast. Welcome it with arms wide open. Love it. Embrace it, and live in it. Time spent in anything that’s not love is time wasted.
I am so enthusiastic to see what 17 has in store for me. The last year has been the coolest most influential year of my life and I can only imagine what 17 will have in store. Thanks for alllll the birthday wishes and love on this beautiful May day.
XOXO,
B
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