I find it so incredibly hard to believe that 2015 is just days from being over. Sure. I say the same thing every year. "This year flew by so fast." With each passing year, though, I find this statement to be more and more true. Looking back, this year has passed so so quickly, and I can't even grasp how. While each year holds new moments, both good and bad, I feel as though 2015 has been such a molding year for me.
As typical Emily, I love to write in the form of a letter. Specifically to someone that I feel needs to hear something directed towards them. I've done letters to the old me, my parents, even Mark Richt (Go Canes). However, this post is a little different. This is a letter to the future me. The me that will, in a year from now, look back on 2016 and all that it was for her.
Dear 2016 Me,
You are probably reading this as you are ending your finals. You are probably packing up to return home for Christmas break, realized just how many pairs of boots you will need to get you through the next three weeks. You are probably exhaling a sigh of relief, for you have conquered yet another semester. You are probably wondering what 2017 will hold for you, because you wish you had a detailed itinerary to go by. Face it, I know you.
As weird as it sounds, I am so jealous of you. You are another year older, wiser, more experienced than me. You have seen what 2016 holds. As a planner, I would love nothing more than to know exactly what is to come in the next year. Though I can't take part in the planning of what shall occur, I do have wishes that I hope you will read on and see followed through.
Hope #1: I hope you got into your major, whatever it may be. Right now, I am in the process of filling out an application to two different majors. I am writing papers, collating references, and just praying that I can have my applications turned in on time. Why am I applying to two different majors? I am unsure. I am unsure if I can get into either one, unsure of what I really want to do, unsure of what God's plan for my life is. At the end of January, I will submit these two applications, both of which emphasize my passion for those with special needs. At the end of March, I will know which program that I will pursue. Until then, I will remain unsure. 2016 Me, I hope that you got into the major that God chose for you, the one that provides the most happiness and promise for you, the one that you can use to make a difference.
Hope #2: I hope that you have learned to love yourself. This is a biggie. As you know, 2015 came with moments where I saw sides of myself that I wish I hadn't encountered. One of these, my least favorite, is my inability to see my true worth. After being told repeatedly "you are not enough", I found it impossible to appreciate and even love myself. 2015 also came with moments where I abandoned who I was to fit a mold, one designed by people I barely knew. I changed how I talked and acting to fit this standard, only to realize that this was not what I had wanted at all. 2016 Me, I hope that you have learned to love yourself, because you cannot expect someone else to love you until you do.
Hope #3: I hope that you continue to grow in Christ. At the start of this semester, I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to speak to me and move me. Sure, I knew who He was, but I did not know Him personally. I experienced doubts that scared me. Since I was little, I have been in the church. Now, a college student, I drifted. My relationship with God was my last priority. I began attending Athens Church in August and signed up to be an UpStreet leader. Since then, I have barely missed a Sunday. I find so much community within those walls, symbolic of God's love for me. I have experienced the Lord in such new, incredible ways that I never would have imagined. I know that in the coming year, I will have many more of these moments. 2016 Me, I hope that you continue to attend Athens Church, grow in your faith, trust in the Lord, and are being a light for Him in Athens and the world.
Hope #4: I hope you experience more happiness than sadness. This hasn't been the most joyous year for me. I've loved, lost, and completed the cycle numerous times. I've come close to packing my bags and leaving Athens, just a suitcase away from giving up on myself due to anxiety. I've cried myself to sleep more times than I would like to admit, and I've questioned myself more than ever. What I have learned, though, is that sadness is temporary. As my church as stated numerous times, "it is ok to not be ok, but it is not ok to stay that way." In the past few weeks, I have experienced joy that could only come from the help of the Lord. I have realized that the impact of the happy times far outweighs that of the sad ones. 2016 Me, I hope that you have continued to be positive even in the most trying of situations and that you have found a bit of happiness in each and every day.
Hope #5: I hope that you are pleased. At the end of 2015, I have begun to see God's plan for my life unfolding. Every day He has revealed a new part of my story to me, and I could not be more excited to learn more. A year from now, I will have learned what you know now about my life and the person that God wants me to be. I have rested in HIs promise for my life, and know that only He can plan my steps. I have realized that I would not want this any other way, for the Lord is so great and sovereign in all of His plans for me. There is no way that i could plan it out any better. 2016 Me, I hope that you are so overjoyed with the steps the Lord has already shown you, and you are satisfied with how the plans will come together in the future.
2016 Me, I hope that you grow. I hope that you never take your life for granted. I hope that you pray daily. I hope that you become more vulnerable. I hope that you see the good in everyone. I hope that you continue to be friends with those God has placed in your life. I hope that you love who you a re becoming. I hope that you become strong in the Lord and that you rest in Him. I hope that you are not fearful of the year to come. More than anything, 2016 Me, I hope that you look back on the year behind you and realize just how blessed you are. You're going places, kid. Make me proud.
I will see you in a year, but until then,
2015 You
"Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created." -Esther 4:14
As typical Emily, I love to write in the form of a letter. Specifically to someone that I feel needs to hear something directed towards them. I've done letters to the old me, my parents, even Mark Richt (Go Canes). However, this post is a little different. This is a letter to the future me. The me that will, in a year from now, look back on 2016 and all that it was for her.
Dear 2016 Me,
You are probably reading this as you are ending your finals. You are probably packing up to return home for Christmas break, realized just how many pairs of boots you will need to get you through the next three weeks. You are probably exhaling a sigh of relief, for you have conquered yet another semester. You are probably wondering what 2017 will hold for you, because you wish you had a detailed itinerary to go by. Face it, I know you.
As weird as it sounds, I am so jealous of you. You are another year older, wiser, more experienced than me. You have seen what 2016 holds. As a planner, I would love nothing more than to know exactly what is to come in the next year. Though I can't take part in the planning of what shall occur, I do have wishes that I hope you will read on and see followed through.
Hope #1: I hope you got into your major, whatever it may be. Right now, I am in the process of filling out an application to two different majors. I am writing papers, collating references, and just praying that I can have my applications turned in on time. Why am I applying to two different majors? I am unsure. I am unsure if I can get into either one, unsure of what I really want to do, unsure of what God's plan for my life is. At the end of January, I will submit these two applications, both of which emphasize my passion for those with special needs. At the end of March, I will know which program that I will pursue. Until then, I will remain unsure. 2016 Me, I hope that you got into the major that God chose for you, the one that provides the most happiness and promise for you, the one that you can use to make a difference.
Hope #2: I hope that you have learned to love yourself. This is a biggie. As you know, 2015 came with moments where I saw sides of myself that I wish I hadn't encountered. One of these, my least favorite, is my inability to see my true worth. After being told repeatedly "you are not enough", I found it impossible to appreciate and even love myself. 2015 also came with moments where I abandoned who I was to fit a mold, one designed by people I barely knew. I changed how I talked and acting to fit this standard, only to realize that this was not what I had wanted at all. 2016 Me, I hope that you have learned to love yourself, because you cannot expect someone else to love you until you do.
Hope #3: I hope that you continue to grow in Christ. At the start of this semester, I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to speak to me and move me. Sure, I knew who He was, but I did not know Him personally. I experienced doubts that scared me. Since I was little, I have been in the church. Now, a college student, I drifted. My relationship with God was my last priority. I began attending Athens Church in August and signed up to be an UpStreet leader. Since then, I have barely missed a Sunday. I find so much community within those walls, symbolic of God's love for me. I have experienced the Lord in such new, incredible ways that I never would have imagined. I know that in the coming year, I will have many more of these moments. 2016 Me, I hope that you continue to attend Athens Church, grow in your faith, trust in the Lord, and are being a light for Him in Athens and the world.
Hope #4: I hope you experience more happiness than sadness. This hasn't been the most joyous year for me. I've loved, lost, and completed the cycle numerous times. I've come close to packing my bags and leaving Athens, just a suitcase away from giving up on myself due to anxiety. I've cried myself to sleep more times than I would like to admit, and I've questioned myself more than ever. What I have learned, though, is that sadness is temporary. As my church as stated numerous times, "it is ok to not be ok, but it is not ok to stay that way." In the past few weeks, I have experienced joy that could only come from the help of the Lord. I have realized that the impact of the happy times far outweighs that of the sad ones. 2016 Me, I hope that you have continued to be positive even in the most trying of situations and that you have found a bit of happiness in each and every day.
Hope #5: I hope that you are pleased. At the end of 2015, I have begun to see God's plan for my life unfolding. Every day He has revealed a new part of my story to me, and I could not be more excited to learn more. A year from now, I will have learned what you know now about my life and the person that God wants me to be. I have rested in HIs promise for my life, and know that only He can plan my steps. I have realized that I would not want this any other way, for the Lord is so great and sovereign in all of His plans for me. There is no way that i could plan it out any better. 2016 Me, I hope that you are so overjoyed with the steps the Lord has already shown you, and you are satisfied with how the plans will come together in the future.
2016 Me, I hope that you grow. I hope that you never take your life for granted. I hope that you pray daily. I hope that you become more vulnerable. I hope that you see the good in everyone. I hope that you continue to be friends with those God has placed in your life. I hope that you love who you a re becoming. I hope that you become strong in the Lord and that you rest in Him. I hope that you are not fearful of the year to come. More than anything, 2016 Me, I hope that you look back on the year behind you and realize just how blessed you are. You're going places, kid. Make me proud.
I will see you in a year, but until then,
2015 You
"Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created." -Esther 4:14