WISHES FOR MY DAUGHTERS

I have read a few different posts similar to this that have inspired me to write my own list of 'life lessons'. Lessons that I hope my daughter will learn, little bits of wisdom that I hope she will take with her and some words that may serve to carry her through hard times.

Life is so short and being a nurse I know that it can be taken away far to early. No person, no family, is immune to illness or heartbreak and as much as I pray to live long enough to model and teach her all of these lessons, I know I'm not immune and life is uncertain. It's taken me quite some time to write this list, keeping a journal at my bedside and in my purse to jot down what I feel are some of the most important lessons life has taught me in my twenty-some years. 

This post is dedicated to my beautiful daughters...

Sara, Lilly and Storrie...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First and foremost, you are so very loved and always will be. I will always be in your corner, I will be your friend but before your friend I will be your mother and I will always try my best to be fair.You won't always think I'm being fair and you won't always agree with  me, but know that I am always looking out for your best interest.

It is never your job to make people happy. You are only responsible for your own happiness, so focus on what makes you happy and never lose sight of it trying to please others.  It's OK to make mistakes. No matter how big or how small, it is part of life. It's hard not to dwell on your mistakes but the best thing you can do is learn from them and move on. Figure out how to be happy on your own. Learn how to make yourself happy before finding someone to share your life with. If you can't be happy being alone you will never be  100% happy in a relationship. Always follow your dreams. You will succeed if you believe you can and you will excel best doing what you love so find a passion in something and work hard to achieve your dreams and goals. Success never comes easy but the hard work is always worth it in the end. Beauty starts on the inside. If you can become a beautiful person on the inside your outer appearance will reflect that. Beauty comes from the inside out. Learn to incorporate exercise into your daily life. It doesn't have to be strenuous, it can just be a nice long walk, free of distraction from the outside world. Take time out of your day to better your health through exercise and eating good healthy whole foods. Always get to know others on your own terms. Never make assumptions about someone based on the opinions' of others. If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all. Gossip is ugly and talking negatively about others' is a reflection of your own character. There will always be mean girls. You don't just encounter them in high-school. Mean girls have insecurities and sadly break down others to build themselves up. Always be someone who builds others up, and never allow yourself to find security in the misfortune of another. Take time to dance. Embrace the music in the moment and dance, it's good for the soul and there is nothing a good kitchen dance party won't cure. Be kind. Always be kind, you never truly know what battle another is fighting. Be a good friend. Be loyal and be selfless but never lose yourself in it. Be the friend you wish you had. Surround yourself with people who make you want to be a better person, people who build you up. Never be afraid to let go of those who don't. Find a partner who compliments you, not one to complete you.
Love doesn't happen like it does in the movies. You'll know it when you find it but it will always take hard work, effective communication and commitment to make it last forever. Just because you love someone, doesn't mean they are the one you are supposed to spend forever with. You can't fix people. People are who they are, don't try to fix them or change them. If you don't like something about another learn how to live with it or let them go.  Always fight fair. Know when you're wrong and apologize. You will have your heart broken, probably more than once, but never be afraid to fall in love again. Every heart break is worth it to find that special someone. Never take the chance of wondering what could have been. Learn from your Daddy, what it is to be a good man. Find someone who loves you as much as he does. Always be honest with yourself, even if it's hard. Follow your heart and listen to your gut, it's usually right. Close girlfriends are the best therapy. You don't need 100 of them, but a few who can carry you through hard times. Put your phone down in the presence of real people. Give them your attention and show them that they are important to you, give them your time. Take time to notice the little things. The sights and sounds of your everyday routine, the sound of a loved ones laughter, that warm fuzzy feeling when you fill your belly with hot cocoa after playing outside in the snow. Remember the little things, take time to notice them because these are the things that you'll want to remember.  Be positive. Always try to stay positive, leave no room for negativity and good things will come your way. Try to find the humor in a bad situation because I guarantee you will laugh about it later.
Challenge yourself, step outside your comfort zone. You will never know the strength of your own character without challenging yourself.  Have faith in something. There are many beliefs out there, I want you to believe what speaks to you. I will teach you what I believe, but I never want you to think that my way is the only way. I never want you to believe in something out of fear. I want you to have real faith in something. Be a good person because you want to be a good person, because it's the right thing to do.
But more than anything I want you to always live in the moment. Never dwell on the past or fret about the future, life has a way of always working out. Live in the moment, enjoy the moments because in the end they are all we really have and the way we remember them depends on how present we were.