Dearest Lovely Girls,

I remember a few short years ago when I was 16. It feels like it was forever ago, yet it's still in my recent past. I remember all of the insecurities, the friend drama, the boy drama, the school drama, the family drama, etc. And right now, you're going through that, too. I know that you're itching and aching and railing against the system to just get out of this period of transition, but let me just tell you a few things that I wish I had listened to when I was 16.

You are the bees-knees

Yeah, I said it. You are wonderful, just because you are you. You are lovely, even when you're on your fourth piece of pizza and you feel like you're a hundred pounds heavier than you actually are. You are beautiful in its truest sense. You have the capacity to be the peak of elegance, poise and influence. You have a magical quality about you that only women possess, because it is intrinsic in our nature as women of God. You are beautiful because of the stuff you're made of in your heart and soul, regardless of whatever anyone has ever told you, or whatever you've ever told yourself.

You are an absolute laugh riot

Your dry sense of humor where you make the rest of us figure out if you're joking or not until you can't hide your smile anymore is hysterical. Your quick wit would put Jimmy Fallon to shame, and the way you make the room laugh when we all need to is a quality that few have.

You are better than friend drama

I know, I know, these girls are going to be your friends for life, but if that were true would they put you through such misery? There will always be mean girls, as unfortunate as that is, and you may actually already have one or two friends that will last you a lifetime, but my dear, do not give in to the anxiety. Do not give in to the gossip, or the pointed looks across the hallway, or the cliques that only last a year or two. Do not give in. Don't cave. Don't lower yourself to the level they're operating on, because you're too sparkly and shiny on the inside for them to touch. They can only effect you if you let them.

You are better than school drama

Believe me, I completely understand how much you don't want to write that paper, read that book, do the hundred-or-so math problems, or even look at that French book. I get it. But here's the thing: If you want to launch into college and the rest of your life, you need to do your job now. Right now, as much as you hate having to do these things that seem like they don't matter, I promise it's only temporary. If you get it done now, there will be so much more waiting on the other side. Don't make it into something bigger than it is, because even though it seems like you're drowning right now, you can do it. Compartmentalize your work -- focus on one thing and get it done. Then move on to what's next.

You are better than boy drama

I know that there aren't many boys in your life, or it doesn't seem like there are yet, and the ones in your life are stupid and annoying. Yeah. So don't let them have power over you. It's OK if they're not a part of anything important yet. If they are, don't let them make you feel or think any different than you should -- not about yourself or anything else. You are the most wonderful, beautiful, loved young woman without them trying to work their way in to your innermost circle just yet. Be friends with them, but don't give it any more power over you than you would want anyone else to have.

You are better than family drama

The little boys are annoying sometimes, yes, but that's because they're little boys. They're loud, they're crazy, they're smelly, they're annoying, but that's because that's the only way they know how to be right now as they try to get your attention. All they really want is to feel loved and respected by you. And yeah, mom can be pushy sometimes (can't we all?). Try raising a bunch of kids, and you would be too. She just wants to feel like you're doing what's best for you. She wants you to do as well for yourself as you possibly can. Same with Dad; they are your biggest cheerleaders. Don't take that for granted.

I promise, once you're out of the house, you will miss the crazy. You'll miss being enveloped in Dad's hugs. You'll miss having those moments with Mom when you exchange knowing glances and an entire conversation has just been had through those looks that no one else was aware of. You'll miss having our older brother come home with our soon-to-be-big-sister only to pretend that he's dirt poor broke so that he can steal all of the food from the fridge and give you life advice that will only make sense in about six years (but it will make sense, and it will be helpful...just you wait). You'll miss seeing the sheer joy and excitement in the little boy's eyes when they're running from the dog with a ball in their hands (as foolish as that may seem right now). Soon, you'll be looking back on it as if it's heaven on earth. Choose to see the good over the annoying.

You have the most beautiful heart

Putting aside the fact that you're a knock-out, your heart is what continues to take my breath away. Even though you've got a temper like no other and a couple of looks that could kill, you have the biggest, kindest, loveliest heart. You also have a few dozen defense mechanisms to protect it, but those who are lucky enough to see it get the breath kicked out of them every time.

You can do whatever you want to (within reason)

I'm not going to sell you this ideal that you can do and be whatever you dream up, because let's face it: You're probably not going to be an astronaut, or a mermaid (I know it's crushing, but we've got to face it at some point), etc. But you're smarter, more charming, more clever and more capable than you give yourself credit. Pursue what fascinates you, even if it seems like it might not be possible right now. If there's a chance, do it. Work for it. You're perfectly capable of making things happen for yourself.

You are the sun.

Yeah, hormones are terrible, and high school is like hell on earth in so many ways, and the girls in your grade still look like they're twelve-year-old pageant girls. But everything that's going on right now that's making you feel so displaced, disregarded, annoyed, pulled apart at the seems, ugly, confused, anxious, angry, and so ready to leave are all of the things that are teaching you what you could be. They're lessons. A practice ground. Boot camp. Being a girl is hard. It always will be. But you can do it.

Always remember: We are our happiest when we are pursuing what fascinates us. We rise when we're lifting others. We are fulfilled when we act in love on our way to pursuing joy, goodness, and truth. Never forget, baby girl, when you walk in the room you light it up like the sun, and are just as important.

I can't wait to watch you continue to become the lovely, strong, elegant woman you're made to be, and I could not be more thankful for you.

Sincerely,

Your proud big sister. xoxo