Okay, so today, I was browsing my beloved CNN.com to read articles. My mother hates the fact I read CNN because she thinks they are filling my head with a bunch of Democratic bull crap, and she is afraid that I will convert to the Dark Side. For the record, I am neither a republican nor Democrat. I sway slightly Democratic in the sense that I am for Social Equality and whatnot, but I am well aware the Democrats usually have a spending problem, much like I do when I start seeing everything I could possibly want to buy when I have something more important I need to save for (say... a house...).
Nevertheless, Mama KP, as I call her, was almost in tears a few months ago when I told her I wasn't sure if I would be voting in this year's election. Mind you, this is all irrelevant to what I am actually going to write about, but whatever. She kept pressuring me to vote for Romney because," Obama is ruining this country, and if he gets elected again, Kelsey... I don't know... It just scares me. It can't happen." Is my mom a little over dramatic sometimes? Yes. Yes, she is. But I can't help but agree that Obama's "shopping spree" hasn't exactly done this country a lot of good. Okay, probably more about my political views later, but onto my main point...
So, I found an "article" of sorts on CNN about today being International Day of the Girl. It's a day dedicated to, well, girls. It's a day to advocate for girls'/women's rights and make others aware of gender issues in every part of the world. Here is the article >>>
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/11/world/gallery/international-day-of-the-girl/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
It asked many prominent women around the world what advice they would give their 15-year-old self if they could. I have always wondered what I might tell myself. Granted, I am only 23 years old and hardly in a position to say, "Back in my day..." But, at the ripe age of 23, I have had a lot of time to mull over the decisions I have made in the last, let's say 10 years of my life.
For one, I would tell my 15-year-old self that family and friends are #1. How cliche, right? But honestly. I lost my grandmother a week and a half after I graduated high school. I have had a lot of regrets in terms of not spending enough time with her and not appreciating her as much as I should have. I realize, now that I am older, I would give almost anything to have her back in my life. I see a lot of people my age who still have grandparents and take them for granted or treat them poorly. It makes me sick. I wish I could tell them what I see, but I really don't see it as any of my business. But, I miss my grandmother every day and am sometimes almost brought to tears when I think about her. It has been over five years since she passed, but it's still fresh in my mind. In terms of my friends, I have been very fortunate to keep my very close friends from high school, as well as develop close friendships with college friends. I have a "wandering mind" as I like to call it because I am constantly thinking of worst case scenarios and "what ifs," so I try to make the most of the time I get to spend with them, even though many of them live some distance away.
Secondly, I would tell my 15-year-old self that, although I many be an only child and be one of the most important things in my parents' life, that does not mean that their entire world has to revolve around me. I think back to how I used to act when I was that age and am kind of disgusted. It's hard to describe in context, but compared to how I am now, I feel as though I was pretty selfish, but definitely not to the extreme. I feel as though I never really appreciated all my parents did for me back then. I never exactly asked for a lot from them, but whenever they would randomly give me something or let me do something, I never really realized how awesome they were. There are a lot of families out there who are far from being as fortunate as I have been and as my parents are, so I have come to realize it is important to be thankful for a loving family and to be sure to let them know how you appreciate them.
Third, I would tell my 15-year-old self that hard work is one of the most rewarding things anyone can ever do. In high school, I was blessed with the talent of being able to use my own gifted abilities and smarts to get me by. I never studied for tests and always got A's and B's. I worked hard when it came to sports, but looking back, I realize I could have done a lot more to make myself better. It was almost a shock when I got to college when I realized, "Oh, my gosh. I actually have to try." It never sank in until about my Junior year that I couldn't skid by on my natural abilities anymore. I actually have to force myself to read the material, learn it, digest it and be able to retain it for some period of time. It was then that I started setting goals for myself in terms of grades. I achieved those goals and have never been more proud of myself. I feel as though once I find my "dream job," those same ambitions will pop up again and I will surprise myself at just how much I can accomplish in a career.
Fourth, I would tell my 15-year-old self that being a failure at something does not make you a failure at life. As I said earlier, when I was younger, I was able to accomplish things with minimal effort. I have found very few things in my life that I have not been good at (basketball and physics being two of them). But, when I do come across those things, it's hard for me to accept. I am someone who does not like to fail. I took my failures in high school so personally, I almost let them eat me alive. But, if it weren't for my failures--my failed relationships, my failed tests, my failed attempts at something sporty--I wouldn't know the true meaning of the aforementioned point of hard work. There is a point in every one's lives where they are going to have to accept that they will simply not be able to achieve at something. I am not trying to pull anyone down off their pedestal or anything like that, but I feel as though it is important for people to realize and recognize those things. Does it mean that all their time and effort into that area was all for not and in vein? Absolutely not. What's more important is they pat themselves on the back, acknowledge that they tried their best and go on with life. When someone realizes this, they will be able to put forth more effort into something and be able to achieve great things. Life's failures are nothing more than stepping stones to greater achievements.
I hope I haven't bored the absolute crap out of any of you (if anyone actually ever reads this). I do have a lot more things that I would tell my younger self, but I felt as though those were the things that stuck out most prominently in my brain. Never forget who is important in your life. Don't take your family and all they do for you for granted. Work hard. And accept life's failures for what they are.
If you are able, I would love for anyone to share a few things they might tell their younger selves if they ever got the chance. Thanks!
KP
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