Wednesday, January 12, 2011

8 Things I’d Say to 10-year-old Me



Over the next few Wednesdays I’m going to talk to a younger me. Here are some things I’d say to 10-year-old me:



  • You feel like you’re in your sister’s shadow now when you play soccer because of her skills, but you are learning about resiliency and lessons that will bolster you as you are determined to find your own niche. You will find it.

  • You are starting something greater than you realize when you write stories in your journal.

  • Be encouraged, you’re going to embrace the greatest gift possible in just a few years. Hang in there, this gift will change how you see everything.

  • When you are a mom there’ll be a movie made inspired from the Ramona books, and even though you’ll enjoy watching it with your kids, it will never top the books you love to talk about now.

  • Don’t be embarrassed by your deeply sensitive way of absorbing the world and your ability to empathize. Your sensitivity is one of your strengths, though as with all strengths there will be downsides to your depth of emotion.

  • You like to please people and try hard to make peace in the family by putting on all kinds of silly acts. Some of this will stay with you, some of it you’ll release.

  • No worries, you’ll only have poison ivy all over your face as a kid.

  • Your love for dogs will continue to grow and someday you’ll own a dog that doesn’t hunt deer, bark all hours of the night or give you poison ivy.


What would you say to 10-year-old you?

I’m pretty sure I got this idea from Mary DeMuth. I can’t remember exactly what her letter to herself involved, but it sparked my idea for the next few Wednesdays.

*We are under a pile of Snow (snow is in caps because I just finished ROOM. You read it, you get it).

27 comments:

  1. Awwww, sweet! LOL about the poison ivy. I'm always nervous about my kiddos getting it. (because I don't want to get it: I'm selfish that way)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this idea. I may imitate you!

    Yes, there are many things I'd like to say to my 10 year old self. Some of them should not be printed.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love this,espcially the sensitive way you observe the world. I can relate to that. I'd tell myself not to worry about my freckles, that some day I would find a man that didn't call them cute, but sexy:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have several letters to my younger self but not for public consumption. The Lord used them to heal a part of my life in a special way! Enjoyed yours!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear 10-year-old me, it's okay to tell people that you want to be a writer. Don't listen when they tell you it's a fairytale dream.

    This is a great idea, Wendy! I can so relate to your fifth one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love this! And I, too, loved Ramona books. I haven't seen the movie yet, but it sounds like maybe I shouldn't.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sarah, Actually the movie is really cute, but in my mind a movie will rarely ever be as good as a book. It's worth seeing though. Cute.

    ReplyDelete
  8. To my 10-year-old self I'd say, writing that poetry is just the beginning. Keep at it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would tell my 10yo self that it wasn't the end of the world when she accidentally passed gas in front of the cutest boy in school ... When she gets to college, he and his buddies will do a double-take when she walks past them in the courtyard with her head held high. He'll give her that look that says, "I think I know you, but how?" and she'll just smirk and keep walking.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love this, Wendy! Especially, especially the fifth bullet point.

    I would say: Don't worry. You won't always look like a boy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Favorite entry of yours! I think I have said that before though! Love it! If only....

    ReplyDelete
  12. Aww, I love this! I too loved those RAmona books and took my DD to see it last summer. She now prefers the DVD to the books. *rolls eyes* To my 10 y.o. self I would say; Stay strong, you wont always wear your sister's hand me downs. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your creativity amazes me, Wendy! I would encourage a ten-year-old me to remember that God has a plan for me and that He will never leave me or forsake me.

    Enjoy the blessings of today!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Don't wait to be an "adult" to make things happen, start now. :O)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I loved reading this! I would say, "Be yourself and have some fun!"

    ReplyDelete
  16. LOL! Those are great!!! I honestly don't know what I would say to a younger me. I don't really have an regrets. I don't think I would change anything in my life. Maybe just "Don't be so shy." But if I went back and told myself that, it might change my entire life and would I still be who I am today??? Everything we did in the past lead us to where we are now. And I'm pretty happy with where I am now.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Wendy -

    Thanks for giving us insight into the younger version of you. :)

    I'd say to my 10-year-old self: "Don't let anyone talk you out of your dreams."

    Blessings,
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great question. Was I ever that young? I would say, it's all gonna work out okay.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jessica, Your comment cracked me up. Yeah, I used to get it bad. All over. The face was the worst though.

    Cassandra, I will censor my list to my 20's, that's for sure. I'm pretty certain I read something Mary DeMuth did like this. Can't take credit.

    Kara, That's book-worthy stuff right there! Sensitivity, my blessing and curse. ;)

    Karin, Oh, I hear you on that one! I've got journals of those too. I left a lot out mainly as a show of respect to others. I'll dish it all out in a memoir someday. ;)

    Heidi, You write away (good book btw). I think it must be a writer thing, to feel things deeply. Maybe that's why we turn to words.

    Sarah, As I wrote, it's a sweet film.

    Susan, Isn't that fun? I have some of my old stuff and some of it makes me laugh. Hard!

    Mama B. Cracking me up. I never pass gas. Nope. Not ever. ;) But my kids may tell you differently.

    Katie, Woman, you are a hottie. Certainly don't look anything like a boy. Thanks for loving the #5 in me!

    Jennie, Have I told you I cannot wait to read your studies. Can't wait to see how God moves in me through what you wrote. Can't wait!!!

    Casey, Thanks, woman.

    T. Anne, This is so funny b/c my sister is still handing off so many of her clothes to me and I love them. I get all my "new" sneakers from her. Still excited about your big news!

    Maria, And what a reminder that is. That one is one I wish 20-year-old me clung to a little more.

    Diane, I was happening things all right. Happening and happening. I prob. needed to chill a little then (still do).

    Julie, Like I wrote to Diane, I was having lots and lots of fun.

    Stephanie, Completely get your point. It's a good one. Just cool to think about what I might say, not that I feel a need or a regret about anything.

    Susan, I echo that. Sometimes it's not even a living person, but the doubts in my own mind I fight.

    Karen, I still need to repeat that phrase to myself.

    Thanks for chiming in ladies!

    I'm an excellent scanner, eh?! ;) Snow is up to our windows here. It was beautiful all day. We helped our neighbors shovel out and Grandma J. (not an actual Grandma to the kids, but we call her that) gave us cookies in return. Major score because they are good. Off to eat a cookie, or two (or three).

    Here's to leaving the past where it belongs and taking on the future confident of His love for us!
    ~ Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ahhh, Wendy, that was the sweetest post ever!

    I would say, "don't worry, God will find you even when you're not looking for Him."

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is a beautiful idea Wendy:) I'm gushing with things to say to 10yr old me. On the top of the list is- love yourself. You are the only you that God created on purpose and with a wonderful plan in mind. I would teach me the value of loving me.

    This felt so cleansing- thanks Wendy.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful, Wendy! I would tell my 10 year old self (something I am trying to get through to my 8 year old son) is to not worry about what everyone thinks about you, and not everyone is watching everything your brothers do to embarrass you! He is my mini-me...worrying about everyone around him!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wendy, what a great post idea.

    One of your comments to your 10-year-old self made me smile, "Don’t be embarrassed by your deeply sensitive way of absorbing the world and your ability to empathize. Your sensitivity is one of your strengths . . ."

    I echo this. I LOVE the way you view the world, notice things I would never see, and stretch me as only you can.

    Hugs to that precious girl you were. She's grown into an amazing woman!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I would say to 10 year old me... "You are so much stronger than you know. Your strength comes from outside yourself and you know that already. Kiddo...that's half the battle right there. Just lean on that!"

    ReplyDelete
  25. How funny you posted this yesterday--on one of the scrapbook pages I posted on my blog yesterday, what you can't see is a letter to my 12-yr. old self! lol (We're so in sync.) It is a great exercise...powerful for getting you to focus on big dreams! :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. So stealing this idea too...LOVE Romana books...have one on my bedside table right now :)

    ReplyDelete

Taking Time

college applications                 homecoming                            flag football                basketball             SATs   ...