This post is for all of you out there who might be a little downhearted, sad, lonely, or just suffering from a bad day, week, month or year. While we all have unique situations from one another, they all have some similarities.
Long story short: you are not alone.
I can’t describe your life story. I can’t describe what happened to you today, whether it be good or bad. And, I can’t describe what it is that you are dealing with that has kept your mind reading this post. Whatever it is, I promise you aren’t the first person to go through it and you won’t be the last. No matter what you think. Before I start going all Dr. Drew on you, which scares me a little, I want to try my best to string together some words in order to describe my personal story, so far.
I’m 20. Yes, barely an adult, barely out of my teens, barely no longer a kid (supposedly). I’m not legal to drink alcohol, but I can purchase an R-rated movie ticket. I’m not legal to book a hotel reservation on my own, but I can get arrested and charged as an adult. Why do I say these things? Because sometimes I forget how young I am. Whether you are 16 or 92, you are alive. You’re here. There’s really no difference. I know some 80 year old women who act more like they are 16 than most teenagers. And these teenagers don’t even realize it. Most of the adults I talk to look back on their younger years and regret the time they wasted saying “I never want to go back to that again.” Just the other day, I was listening to an author talk about how she loves the chaos she calls her life. She talked about how before she had kids she would look at what she now considers “easy things” as hard tasks. She felt like she wasted so much time doing nothing or pointless things. I agree with her. Personally, I look back at yesterday or today or this past week and think “what did I do?” Nothing. Sure, I went to class, got a few things done, hung out with some friends, slept, ate a few good meals, played my guitar, wrote part of a song. And now I’m searching for other things to write down. You see ads and billboards telling you to do something with your life, yet something gets lost in translation. People can say things all they want. That’s easy. Actually doing them is a different story. One that is far less told.
This picture above sums up my past few months. Not in the positive sense. I have done just the opposite. It’s hard to see a bad day and turn it into a positive. It’s also hard to be young and feel like your heart and dreams are being pulled in a million different directions. Things seem so impossible. I get it. I’ve been there. I still am. But, that’s life. And I mean that in the most positive way. It is impossible to gain success without suffering defeats. You would not know the difference.
Your idea of a bad day is probably a really good day for someone else. So cherish everyday. And I mean that. Don’t disregard it like “oh, that reminds me of some stupid quote you see hanging on a wall in your mother’s kitchen.” Yeah, I agree. But, I can promise you, one day you will look back and think “I would give anything to be there on that day in that moment right now.” I have done that to my worst days. For whatever reason it is, you will do it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day you will. Hold me to it.
Being young is a precious thing. Enjoy it. When you are in your 40′s you might think “Woo, I am glad that is over and in the past.” But for now enjoy it. Enjoy whatever decade you are in. Live it like you are never going to see another one. It would be a mistake not to.
And now, my eyelids are fighting me. I’m also running a 5K tomorrow morning or in a few hours. I mean, YOLO. Isn’t that what this post is about? I will be a zombie. Yikes. This will not be the last post like this. I am definitely not finished. So until then, enjoy your life. Please feel free to comment with any advice, quotes, or just anything you would like to say. You are truly an amazing person for reading this post.
Love you all.
xo
Mallory
Recently, one of my friends had a lovely little party in honor of her graduation. The only requirements were floppy hats and pretty dresses. And just as we always do, my friends and I found ourselves snapping away photos of everything. The estate was beautiful and full of several different surprises including a colorful garden, beautiful secret shed, and many hidden staircases. Here are a few of the photos we got while dancing in bubbles and running around in heels holding fine china.
