Lesson the First: It's okay to be different. It's okay to have differing opinions than those around you. It's okay to be quirky. It's okay to get blank stares because people don't understand your humor and pop culture references (which happened a lot on my Incept tours, because obviously, my level of thinking is above these ding bats). It's okay to date anyone you are attracted to. It's okay to be the only white kid in a room full of African Americans/black people. Being different is beautiful! Being different is what makes everyone special! God loves us in part, because we are different, and we need to find what makes each of us different and make those attributes our greatest strengths. It's okay to be different!
Lesson the Second: People can surprise you. We shouldn't judge or underestimate anyone based on what little we know about them...which I'm still working on. I am friends with people that I never thought I would be after this summer. The opposite is also true. I'm not friends with people I thought I would be friends with. Some people who I thought I would get along swimmingly with this summer turned out to be my least favorite, while others surprised me and surpassed all expectations I had for them. Some friends lied to me, while others were brutally honest. Some of my friends are actually growing into adults, while others are backtracking. People can surprise you!
Lesson the Third: Family is important. I spent more time away from my family than I ever have this summer, and realized how much I enjoy being around them. We fight, we argue, we annoy each other, but we're family! I would kill for each member. This encompasses all of my family. I have an odd family dynamic in which we are actually very close to all of our aunts, uncles, and cousins, so that is who I refer to when I say my family. For example, I'm closer to my cousin Lauren than I ever thought possible. We are 7 years apart and are at completely different stages of life, but she's been where I currently am and is one my best advisors. Family is important!
Lesson the Fourth: Confrontation isn't always a bad thing. I've grown up with friends and family who are avoiders of confrontation and rather let things boil till the pot runs over and everything comes out at once. This summer, I tried a different approach to some of my problems: level-headed confrontation. It's not always negative to confront someone about an issue if you go into the situation calmly. I don't believe you necessarily have to be constructive. If you say destructive things in a mellow way you can sometimes get away with it. It's a matter of mood and aura when you approach someone. Come at them in a calm way and you may have a better chance of getting the issue resolved. Confrontation isn't always a bad thing!
Lesson the Fifth: Life isn't always full of sunshine and daisies. There are dark times to be had in all lives. Sometimes you are going to sit in your room alone with some Jack Daniels and realize that things suck! You will realize that you are at your worst and may feel unworthy of anything good or pleasant. This is natural. Everyone goes through these foul times and can expect them to eventually be back at some later point. When this happens, find your center. Remember what is important to you and fight like hell to climb out of the dark hole. Turn to faith. Turn to friends. Turn to family. Turn to therapy. Turn to watching great movies and TV shows that never get old. Turn to constructive activities, such as sports, music, working out, reading, etc. These times can be beaten, but will most likely be recurring holes that hinder our already rocky path down life's yellow brick road. If only we were given a pair of red slippers or Glenda the good witch would show her face. Sadly, we are left with our own resources to fight these times. Life isn't always full of sunshine and daisies!
Lesson the Sixth: Those who really care about you will always be there. People come and go in everyone's lives, but those who really matter, the ones you randomly text Buffy lines to (Bekah), the ones who randomly ask you "What's up?" (C Bill, Lauren, Mawnk, Drea, Sawn, Trey, Chessie, and others), the ones who see you and scream your name and run to you (Callie, Andrea, Amberly, and Charity), the ones who remember weird high school events and think of you (Anna-Marie, Alex, and Spencer), the ones who come visit you, the ones who tell you they love you no matter what, the ones who are new to your life but still feel comfortable enough with you to automatically make a niche in their lives for you (the Incept team, Rohan, Numa, Chris, Candace, and Amanda), those are the ones that matter! They will be there no matter what you do, say, or face in life. Even if the time you spend with them has been cut down, call them and they will be there asap! You wanna know why? They genuinely care about you and your happiness! They actually care about what happens to you. I will give you time to let that sink in because I know that is a shocker.
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Okay shock over? Good. These people care about you no matter how you feel at the current time. They want you to succeed, even if you do better than them. They want you to be happy, even if you're happier than them. The ones who don't matter will abandon you when things get tough, but those who matter will be there. Those who really care about you will always be there!
Lesson the Seventh: Be happy. I know this sounds simple, but it's hard to just be happy when you have pressures being thrown at you from all directions! It's hard to be happy when you are living for others. It's hard to be happy when you are living for recognition. It's hard to be happy when you aren't being yourself but the shell of what you could be. Living like this will kill you! It causes unneeded stress and worry! It causes health and psychological problems. Find what makes you happy in every situation. Find a silver lining in everything. I'll use a Buffy example for this (sent to me on a letter from Bekah), "I'm just saying, when tragedy strikes you have to look on the bright side, ya know? Like even used Mercedes still have leather seats." - Chordelia Chase, Buffy Season 1. Isn't that a funny quote! It's so true. We can be happy no matter what situation we're in, even if it's just a small flicker of happiness. Be happy!
This ends the lessons brought by summer 2010. Thank you to all who contributed by being a part of my life, even those people I don't like. As always, anyone who needs anything just call or text me!
"Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible." - Cherie Carter Scott
