Dear Jen,

I’ve thought long and hard about what I wanted to say to you, and here’s what I’ve come up with:

Live your life. You have huge things in store for you, dear. Don’t be afraid to go for it, and go big. Even the smallest victories will have huge dividends in the end.

Don’t write off college. I know this sounds like a weird idea now, since you’ve been planning on going your whole life, but you’ll try to walk away from your dream. DON’T. It’s not worth it.

Yes, you’re going to screw up. It’ll be hard and you’ll hurt for a long time, but I’ll tell you this much: you’ll get through it. Never give up on life … I never did.

Don’t count on the future you’re imagining right now. Being only seventeen, I know you’re brushing my advice to the side, but listen to me: this is not what you really want. He is not what you need. You won’t realize it for another few years, but you are so much better than this. You deserve more. You are a beautiful person, and any man would be lucky to love you. It’s just not him.

Listen to your family. Last year’s divorce was hard on you and your brother, I know. But you two are a product of the love your parents once shared. They are wise beyond all reason, and will be there for you no matter what. Don’t shut them out, and they’ll be there for you always.

Speak up. You’ve always been timid, but now’s the time to speak your mind. You have a lovely voice, so use it.

Enjoy the small things. You’re pretty laid back now, but one day you’ll find yourself running in fifteen different directions. Just stop, breathe and carry on. Stay focused and on task, but know when it’s time to step away for some “you” time. I’ve been struggling with this, so if you learn anything from my experiences, it’s THIS.

One day, you’ll meet a fabulous man. Don’t try looking for him, because he won’t show up until you stop looking. Things will be tough, but this man will bring an air of simplicity to your life. Embrace it. Embrace him. You’ll try to give up, but he won’t let you. Be thankful for him every day.

I absolutely love where my life is right now, and despite the years of pain and frustration, I wouldn’t change a thing. Sure, there are things I “regret”, but I wouldn’t advise you to do anything different. Those things have made us who we are now. Good luck, Jen. I love you.

Love,
An older, “wiser” you 


*inspired by Millsanicole’s post—go check it out!

Miss Seedsower has been putting together some Xanga baby pictures … she did such a good job on mine, I can’t figure out which one’s real versus photoshopped!!

  

HAHA, either way, I’m downright adorable.

… I couldn’t resist putting up a few more …

I shouldn’t be surprised that so much drama goes on in this little community of ours, but as I log in to Xanga each day, I wonder what today’s thing will be. 

Who cares who’s in top blogs? What’s wrong with the “ish” sites? If you don’t like what you see, stop looking at it. If someone annoys you, find someone else to read. It’s just that simple.

People blog for all sorts of reasons. It’s their release … their mind’s saving grace. We vent. We share. We discuss. In the end, we do what we want in our space.

Do I enjoy everyone’s blogs? Nope. But it’s not my place to discourage their use of our beloved Xanga. As I’ve said before, though, it would serve us well to remember that real people live behind these screen names. You don’t have to like anyone, but dammit, stop with all the needless bickering, blasting and bitching.

We will be kicking off 2009 next week; I propose we all begin the new year with a new outlook. Our interests may differ from one another, but one thing we have in common is this place—please consider making it a better place to blog, for all our sakes.

This portion of the Party will be for all you people channeling Scrooge this year (or every year). Do you have some sort of beef with the Holiday Season? Does your family resemble that of a heard of charging water buffalo? Perhaps you are fed up with the all the PC talk on “Merry Christmas”. Hate corporate America? Well, do we have a job for you.

But be sure to be as douchey as possible. For some of you that won’t be a problem.  For my category, write a post about why you find the holidays annoying. Whether it’s the music or the movies, people or the corporate greed, share what annoys you about the season!

Please direct your submission to the person that is hosting the category that best fits your entry. My portion of the contest is officially CLOSED!

Whew, finally—a moment for myself!

You may not have noticed, but I’ve been absent for awhile now. Sure, I post every day, but the usual drive behind my posts have been lacking. I have no reason to be sorry for this, as everyone should prioritize their real life before their Xanga one. In my case, work has been all-consuming. My new position has given me even more responsibilities, and I’m trying to figure out how to balance it all. After 10-12 hour days, I come home exhausted and completely drained.

Xanga has always been an outlet for me. I’m glad to know that you’re all still here, even when I’m not.

On a lighter note, my life hasn’t been devoid of all internet interactions. Here are a few of my favorite giggles that helped me through the past week … enjoy!

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