Hey kiddo. I won't get to meet you for another month or so. I don't even know if you're a boy or a girl yet! But over the past several months, I've been bursting to tell you everything I've learned about life, so you never have to worry about learning it the hard way.
Some people will tell you that hard-learned lessons are the best kinds of lessons. This might be true, but I want to save you from hurting or struggling for even one minute of your life... so I'm gonna break it down for you.
So here they are, the lessons I've learned throughout my 25 (almost 26 - maybe we'll have the same birthday!) years on Earth, in no particular order:
- Be you. Absolutely nobody will ever be able to do it better.
- As of today (April 17th, 2012) and for the past 8 months, your parents have been more excited about you than anything that's ever happened to them in their whole lives. Keep this in mind when they're driving you up a wall or being "unreasonable". You're they're favorite thing in the WORLD.
- Nothing hurts worse than a broken heart, but if you're lucky, you'll have learned things about yourself that you didn't know before. These things will help you find your perfect person just a little bit faster.
- Never pass up an opportunity to laugh at yourself. It may be the absolute last thing you want to do at the moment, but I promise it makes everything feel a little more manageable.
- Life is not fair. This isn't to say that karma doesn't play a factor in life (I have a whole blog devoted to the idea that it in fact, does -- what's a blog you say? It's something your weird aunt insisted on doing even though only 4 or 5 people read it. I'll explain later), but you'll see good things happen to people who don't deserve it, and bad things happen to people who don't deserve it. As hard as it is, try to remember that God has a plan for each and every single one of us. We aren't supposed to understand it - just keep some faith and keep your head up.
- Everybody has bad days and everybody is entitled to them. But try not to take these out on undeserving people. I can't tell you how many times I've snapped at your grandma (my mother) just because I was having a bad day, and then felt terrible afterwards. Save yourself the trouble of this by taking a deep breath before responding to people on days like these.
- Keeping the above in mind, always apologize when you should. Being the first to apologize to somebody doesn't make you weak, it makes you brave. And always accept an apology when one is offered. Don't hold grudges - it's a waste of energy.
- Pray. You don't have to kneel down at the foot of your bed at night with your hands together and your eyes shut tight (unless your mom and dad say you do - probably best to listen to them). God can hear you whenever and wherever you decide to talk to Him. Always tell Him you're thankful for all He has blessed you with, and always feel free to ask Him for a little help when you think you need it. His answer will never be "no". He will either respond with "yes", "not right now, but someday", or "I have something better planned for you".
- Clean up your own messes. Physically and metaphorically. Clean up after yourself in your room, etc. but also own up to things you've done wrong, and be willing to fix them yourself.
- Don't pick on anyone. ANYone. Ever. It might make you fit in with a group of your peers, and it may feel good for a moment, but please trust me when I say, you'll look back one day and regret it with all your heart.
- Try not to whine about missing out on time with your friends to spend time with family. I know, I know. This will probably be a tough one. But I gotta tell you, you'll never look back and regret not going to so-and-so's house for a party. You'll definitely look back and regret not spending enough time with your family.
- That being said, make time to have fun. Once you're done with school, chores, etc., make sure to get outside and do something you enjoy doing before you sit in front of the t.v. or before you call it a night!
- Appreciate your pets as much as possible because nobody will love you the way your pets love you!
- Never settle for anything less than you deserve. If this means taking risks and doing things differently than the crowd, then by all means, do it! Nobody ever got anywhere new by doing what everyone else does!
- You can always come to me for anything. Except booze or drugs. Well, maybe booze. We'll talk.
Obviously I don't expect you to follow every single piece of this advice. You'd be some kind of mutant who nobody wants to play with if you were this perfect. But just keep these in the back of your mind, and always think before you react. Oh how I wish I had. It would have saved a lot of worry, a lot of drama, and a lot of tears.
I'll be around to remind you of these when necessary, but also to love the ever-living breath out of you. I can't wait until I get to meet you, hold you, hug you, and adore you. You and I will have the most fun together - just promise you won't always tell your mom and dad what we're up to ;)
All my lovin' to you, little one.
I'm always here for you!
Aunt Alli
(Sissy)
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