Hannabanana,
As a rising fourth grader you may feel like you know everything. You know all fifty states in alphabetical order. You know how to do long division. You can read on a sixth grade level. You know all the planets in the solar system. You even know all the words to every Taylor Swift song. You may think you know everything about yourself. You know you want to go to Clemson someday. You know you want to own your own cupcake shop (Handmade by Hanna, right?) You know you are destined to marry Zac Efron. And you know you want to live somewhere by the beach. But darling, you do not know half as much as you think you do. There is so much you do not know about the world and about yourself. So in honor of your tenth birthday (because double digits is a big deal), here are ten things you will learn in the next ten years.
- You will fall - You will fall down hills and break your ankle. You will fall in (and out) of love. You will fall into people’s traps. Hurt is inevitable. It will happen in the physical form (broken ankle). It will happen emotionally (in and out of love). It will happen psychologically (into traps). Hurting is something you cannot avoid, instead you will learn how to handle yourself when it happens.
- Self-reflection is crucial - How can we move forward if we don’t look back? As cliché as it sounds it is necessary for improvement. You will learn to dig into your past. You will learn and grow from the experiences you have gone through. You will learn to be the person you want to be.
- Mental health is important - This might be a little too much for your baby brain to process but that’s okay. In middle school and high school you will be introduced to the bare basics of mental health. Through two years of psychology and firsthand experience, you will learn the seriousness of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. You will learn to take care of yourself and overcome them. Also, if you need to talk to someone don’t be afraid to ask. There are so many loving people in your life who would love to listen to what you have going on.
- Never lose your fire - Do not be discouraged by your peers, social media, or society. You have so much drive and so much potential. Don’t you ever let anyone put that fire out. Just continue to strive for best and nothing less.
- You can say no - A guy you have no interest in asks for your number; nah. A friend asks you to do something you have no desire to do; nope. Your boyfriend tries to take it too far too soon; hell no. Do not be afraid to say no to doing things you have no desire doing.
- Find your passion - Someday when you are in college you will have to declare a major. For some people it’s as easy as writing their name. For other people (aka you), it won’t be that simple. Find what makes you happiest and pursue it.
- Slow down - Right now life seems to be taking forever. You can’t wait to be in middle school, then high school, then college. You’ve already started planning your wedding. Stop. Go outside. Breathe in the fresh air. Enjoy the little things, and stop trying to rush everything.
- Faith>fear - The world is a scary place these days, but you do not have to be afraid. Put all of your anxieties, doubts, and fears into the Lord. The phrase “do not be afraid” shows up 365 times in the Bible. Remember that.
- Disconnect - Do not live in a bubble. Take time to disconnect from technology and go out. Go on a run. Go out with friends. Read a book. Do not spend life glued to a tiny screen.
- Quality is greater than quantity - While this may be true in many different aspects of life, it is most relevant when it comes to who you open yourself up to. It’s okay to want to have millions of friends, but at the end of the day not all of them will be there for you. Be wise with who you let into your life, and remember that less can be more.
One of my favorite quotes that you will not discover until freshman year of college is, “Life is tough, my darling, but so are you.” Please don’t forget that. You will face so many obstacles in the next ten years, but you will learn from them and you will grow from them and they will help shape you into who you are today.
Xoxo,
Nineteen Year Old You
(PS: Taylor Swift still rocks, Zac Efron gets finer with age, and Handmade by Hanna is definitely going to happen!!)
