Dear the 16 year old me
From the F16 world race squad girls:
Some of these are funny but still true and some of these are completely heart breaking to read and remember the pain of the moments, we hope you can relate and laugh along with us, as we attempt at giving advice:
“Trust your gut”
“He’s not worth all of this”
“Pray more and trust God”
“The truth will come out every time, don’t waist your time on lying”
“It’s only truly a mistake if you didn’t learn and grow from it”
“You are not fat, but it doesn’t matter anyways”
“keep going, everything has a purpose”
“Don’t date a guy a year younger than you, he shouldn’t be your first kiss”
“Stand up for yourself”
“Better days are coming”
“Leave, now. Don’t look back.”
“Everyone knows you are still stuffing your bra”
“That boy don’t love you, hold yourself to a higher standard”
“You are beautiful”
“Don’t turn your back on your parents”
“Please stop driving so fast”
“It’s okay to cry”
“Stop starving yourself, the food is way too good”
“Actually read your bible don’t just tweet about it”
“Stop judging those other girls, little do you know you’re about to do the same thing you are judging them for doing”
“Listen to your parents, they’re seeing the things you’re too blinded to see”
“take a chill pill”
“Hold on tight I know it’s hard”
“It’s okay to be “Miss Goody two shoes”
“love people better”
“It’s okay to be your true self”
“Live a life with no regrets”
“That guy isn’t worth your time or tears”
“Focus on what is important to you and grow yourself”
“Keep God first and everything else will fall into place”
“Don’t give up on yourself”
“Stay in church and don’t be afraid to go alone”
“The hard times don’t last forever. But they will develop you into a stronger person forever”
“Don’t worry so much you turn out just fine”
“Take a deep breath, and remember that God is bigger.”
“I would tell her that just because you feel alone doesn’t mean you are alone”
“stop isolating yourself emotionally,it’s not healthy even though you feel like it’ll make you feel better”
” you need to take every moment in and take things slow not rushing through the day.”
“love yourself for who You are inside and not by what people except me to be”
Yes some of these are silly and fun but my favorite thing I wished I truly believed when I was 16 doesn’t come from me or any of my squad mates but from the Lord himself.
Psalms 139 talks about how God created us and how we can not hide from Him, however the verses that I really wish a 16 year old version of me could grab onto is verses 13-14 “For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.”
As girls we are constantly pressured by media and other girls to look a certain way, weigh a certain weight, and to act certain ways in order to fit in or be considered beautiful and “cool”
I too have felt not beautiful or that I didn’t meet the standards to look good in a swimsuit or even a dress; just this past week as I was getting long baggy shorts for the race I felt ugly because men’s basketball shorts aren’t “cute” on girls and “make me look bad”. When really my mind was so focused on the outward that I forgot why I even had to get men’s basketball shorts… I had lost sight of the bigger picture… The world race… Spreading the Gospel to the unreached people.
If I could write a letter to me I would tell myself that it’s time to believe that you were fearfully and wonderfully made by the creator of the universe and He has made you in His own image, the standards the world puts out are not what defines you, you are a child of God and He has made you how He wanted.
So yes all the “advice” and silly things are true but grasp onto the fact that you are made by the God of the universe who loves you unconditionally.
YOU ARE DOING JUST GREAT!! WE LOVE YOU AND ALL OF YOUR IMPERFECTIONS
~ Love the girls from the F16 squad
