Written February 26, 2010
"Dear Rachel,
So. Today's your sixteenth birthday. How does it feel?
Are you still friends with everyone? Kenna, Sam, Olivia, Alivia, Brittany, Olivia, Amy, Lia, Jessica, Ginnie, Kaylien, Grace, Bianca, Paige...?
Did the district get better at all? Does color guard still exist? Have you seen Malea, April, Corey, Britney, Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Miranda, Amber, Chelse, Ginnie, Kaylien, Crystal, or anyone else recently?
Are you interested in any guys now? Because, you know, now you actually have permission to like guys. Even though you say you wouldn't want to have a boyfriend before you are forty... but things could always change. : )
How's school? Do you have classes you like? Are you getting good grades? I hope so. You know that you have everything it takes to get ahead in life. All it takes is pushing yourself a little harder, working just a little longer.
You know you always have people around you that love you. You love yourself. Lexie loves you. Ian loves you. Dad loves you. Mom loves you. Your grandparents love you. Your aunts, uncles, and cousins love you. Your friends love you.
Do you remember when you visited Grandma Phyllis? She told you that you were a beautiful young lady. She told you that your face was perfectly shaped. Inside you felt good. You could hear the emotion in her voice. You never told anyone what it meant to you, but you remember. You are beautiful. You always have been. You may doubt yourself, especially when you get a red spot on your face that refuses to go away. You cover yourself in makeup, just to make yourself feel better. You put in contacts every morning because you hate glasses tilting slightly on your nose. But remember. You have a lot of people in your life that don't care how you look. They know you are beautiful anyway.
Have you remembered to tell everyone that you love them? Have you began to hug people more, a real hug, not just a half hug?
Have you tried to become more outgoing? Do you say 'hi', even when you don't know the person? Do you crack a joke, just so that you can see someone smile?
Do you have confidence in yourself? Do you have confidence in others? Do you still take on the burdens of others, because you feel like you can help them to shoulder the weight? You're a good person. Remember to not let yourself get buried with someone else though. Sometimes it is best to let others keep to themselves. And maybe sometimes it is best for you to share your burden with others as well.
Do you say "I love you" every morning before you leave for school, every night before you go to bed, and every time you leave the house to meet a friend still? Every time you hang up the phone, even if whoever you were speaking to would see you five minutes later? I hope you still do. That little reminder means much more than some people think.
Are you working well in girl scouts? Are you trying your best to help your troop? Are you recording your hours of service, and servicing others any time you can? Are you making the plans? Are you keeping the plans? Are you working to your highest potential?
Are you gardening? Are you going out to pick tomatoes and cucumbers every day, so that you can spend time with dad and feel the earth in your fingers? Are you going out in the lengthy shadows to care for the life of a plant?
Are you still reading? Are you writing about everything you read? Are you drawing meaning from any story you hear? Are you writing your own story along the way?
Are you caring for Oreo, Tina, and Yoyo? Are you letting Tina stretch out on your lap? Are you following Oreo when he jumps and rolls in the bathtub? Are you petting Yoyo as he greets you in the morning on your way to school?
Are you saying thank you to everyone? Anyone who helped to celebrate your birthday? Remember that gifts don't matter: people's presence is the greatest gift you could receive.
Are you listening to good music? Have you fallen low enough again to listen to the swearing? Have you deleted those songs that draw you down from all of your playlists?
Are you learning about others?
Are you learning about yourself?
Are you learning about life?
I hope so.
With love,
You"
It's amazing how much she - I mean, me, I - I know about myself. : )
Since Grandpa had to sing "Sweet sixteen and never been kissed", I thought I'd not think about it being "sweet sixteen". : ) I feel just like normal anyway...
Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes! ^_^
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