To My Little Sisters,

We live in a world that is constantly changing. A world that is cruel yet beautiful, broken but full of opportunity. As you grow older, you’ll find that with each day there is a lesson. You’ll have moments of pure bliss and moments where your heart shatters. You’ll meet people who will complete you and you’ll meet people who will break you. You’ll realize that life is hard but it is worth it.

You have been one of the best parts of my life. Seeing you grow and learn and fall in love with life has been so rewarding. But you still have so much ahead of you, so much to learn and experience. So I want to give you the advice I wish I had heard before I grew up. The advice you should hear before you grow up. Because soon enough you’ll turn around and look at your life passed by. And you’ll appreciate all of this advice:

1. Not Everything Is The End Of The World

Don’t make a big deal of such little things that bother you. Remember to move on and get over things quickly. In the long run, they don’t mean anything. Working yourself up or getting mad will only steal your joy, which brings me to my next point…

2. Don’t Let Anything Steal Your Joy

One of the most important things ever is your joy. Not every day will go perfectly and sometimes you will get upset, but you need to keep your chin up and remember that you have an amazing life. If things are going wrong, pray…I promise they will get better.

3. Smile…A Lot

Smiling will make you happier. So will laughing. So do both as much as possible. Also, laughing gives you abs. It’s a good alternative to working out. ;)

4. Listen To Mom & Dad

I know that sometimes you may feel unimportant or unloved (I can definitely relate) and the last thing you want to do is listen to Mom & Dad. However, you need to make sure to always respect them. They’re older than you and they’re wiser than you. Yes they can make mistakes…they’re humans. The Bible says to honor your mother & father so respect for them is absolutely necessary. Don’t go against their rules even if you disagree with them. Just make sure that no matter what, you are always doing the right thing in God’s eyes.

5. Communicate

Use your words but choose them wisely. If you’re upset, express that through your words, not actions, but still be considerate of others feelings. If you respect others, they will respect you back. Also, make sure to not keep your feelings bottled up. There are a bunch of people who love you (including myself) who you can go to talk to when you need to vent.

6. Let Go Of Pride

Learning from others wisdom is an important part of life; thus, it’s pivotal to let go of pride. It’s good to be confident or proud of yourself but you need to be open to getting help or advice from other people. You’ll learn from them and they can also learn from you.

7. Read Your Bible

Always read your Bible. Set aside time every single day, whether it be 10 minutes or an hour, to read it and study it. You may want to do other things, but reading your Bible is the most important thing you need to do. God speaks to you through His word and you will learn from it. I suggest putting some worship music on and finding a quiet place to sit down, read, and really concentrate. Use a highlighter to mark important or favorite verses. Taking time with God is the best way to find peace in the midst of trial and it will strengthen your relationship with Him.

8. God Is First

Pray daily, read your Bible daily, worship God daily, and attend church weekly. You’re growing up and need God in your life. He is always there for you and you need to always have faith in Him. Thank Him often and always follow His ways. Trust that He has your life in His hands. If you put Him first in everything you do, you’ll find His blessings are abundant and His ways are perfect.

9. Don’t Let Fear Control You

Make new friends, try new things, be adventurous. You can do amazing things and have great experiences if you overcome your fears, doubts, and worries. I promise that you will not regret being confident with yourself.

10. Keep Your Friends Close & Your Enemies Closer

Always hold on to your true friends — they are those who are always there for you and accept you for who you are. And if anyone is ever mean to you, remember to kill them with kindness. Don’t ever be mean to others and remember that if they are hurting you, it means they are probably hurting inside or someone hurt them. So be nice to them.

11. Don’t Worry About Boys

You’re in middle school so don’t worry about boys now. They may tease you and such but don’t worry about that. You will have time for boys later in life. God has a man for you. And in His perfect timing, He will bring him into your life. In the mean time, focus on friends, academics, family, and your faith.

12. Work Hard, Play Hard

Remember to always do your homework and to study hard. I know sometimes you would rather be doing something else, but sometimes we need to make sacrifices. Education is extremely important and you need to try your best. With that said, also remember to go out and have fun and take time for yourself every once in a while. Breaks are needed to calm you down, destress, and reboot.

13. Cherish The Little Things

This is one of my biggest pieces of advice. Life passes by quickly and it’s extremely important to slow down every once in a while and recognize all the good things in your life. Cherish a moment, a person, a laugh. BE HERE NOW. Live in the moment because soon enough that moment will just be a memory.

14. You Are Beautiful

I don’t care what anyone else says to you. You are beautiful inside and out. God made you in His image, which means you are beautiful in His eyes. He made no mistake in making you. You don’t need to look good for others. As long as you feel beautiful, whether it be in a dress or sports shorts, make up or no make up, that’s all that matters. Be comfortable with who you are because there’s no one like you. You are one in a million and God loves you for who are. And if God loves you for who you are, you should love yourself too.

If you ever need me, I’m one call away (or a bedroom away). No matter where I go in life or what I do, I will always love you and always make time for you. I know that I can get busy sometimes and I often say I’m too exhausted to do anything, but know that I’ll always listen to you vent, cuddle with some popcorn and a movie, or run to get ice-cream anytime of the day. I’ll always be a shoulder to cry on or be someone to dance with around the kitchen. I’ll always be your big sister to love you and to learn from. And I know I will learn from you too.

Love,

Your Big Sister