Dear 13-year-old Katie,
You'll make friends soon. You might want to
start with the red-head in your English class. She'll be standing up at
your wedding one day.
Dear 15-year-old Katie,
There is no 4th floor pool at your high school.
You're going to betray your friend's trust, and she's going to
respond with so much more love and forgiveness than you deserve. You'll
have opportunities later to pay it back, and pay it forward. Take
those opportunities, always.
Stop worrying about your grades so much. Stop worrying in general so much.
Dear 16-year-old Katie,
Quit listening to Alanis Morissette on repeat. That's just embarrassing.
When he tells you that he's a carrier of mono, he's not joking. Don't kiss him!
Stop worrying about your grades so much.
You know that poster board on your bedroom wall that says "Write on
my Wall", and is filled with colorful comments and notes from friends?
You'll still have that in 15 years, except it will be called Facebook.
Dear 17-year-old Katie,
Sporting a WWJD bracelet, a sticker-covered Bible, and a holier-than-thou attitude is SO NOT what Jesus would do.
Taking AP classes and having a high ACT score does not make you
smarter or better than anyone else. Also, stop worrying about your
grades so much.
Dear 19-year-old Kate,
College is not
the time to stay home every night. The bar is within walking distance.
Put on a cute top and some heels, and GO OUT!!!
Stop worrying about your grades so much.
Appreciate your grandma.
Dear 22-year-old Kate,
It's okay to feel broken. But if you
are honest with yourself, you will admit that he wasn't right for you.
Someone else will be. It's hard to believe this now, but it really is
for the best. Try to be grateful.
Dear 23-year-old Kate,
Being single at your age does NOT make you a spinster. Enjoy this phase of life, and don't even think about settling.
You might want to worry about your grades a little more... just kidding!
The brand of Christianity you're trying out now isn't right for
you. Keep looking, because there are like-minded people out there who
also have a thirst for a spiritual community. Hint: THIRST!
Dear 24-year-old Kate,
You can trust him when he says he
won't leave you. And he'll mow the lawn, and tell you stories, and get a
PhD, and scratch your back, and tie the bows in the backs of your
dresses, and do the taxes AND the dishes, and take you to the airport at
4:00 am, and cheer for you you at seven spots when you run a marathon.
It's a little bit dumb to agree to marry someone you have only known
for 3 months, but this is the best dumb decision you could ever make.
Dear 28-year-old Kate,
Don't let anyone make you think you
could be going to hell because of your beliefs. You know better than
that. Also, this isn't something that comes naturally for you, but it's
prudent to keep your mouth shut sometimes.
Dear 30-year-old Kate,
It's been getting better and better and better. There's no reason for that to change just because you're 30. There are surely wonderful things ahead.
