First, how gross is my picture? Haha! Since this question was about my past, I looked up my old pictures and posts on xanga (embarrassing) and found this little collage I posted to show how much I changed. Apparently I really liked shell necklaces. So the picture from left to right: eighth grade, freshman year, sophomore year.
Anyway, I was asked this question about a year ago, and wanted to go more in-depth on my response.
To be honest, no – there is nothing I would change about the life I have lived so far because it has made me the person I am today. Both the good, and the bad have taught me lessons that I would not have learned any other way. If I had to change something about my life, I would change where my mentality was on certain things and situations in the past.
It’s funny, just last week I was talking to one of my best friends, Lauren, about where we were when we first became friends in 2006, how we were a year ago, and how we are today. I have changed so much, but for the better.
I don’t like the person I was before. I got angry easily, I held grudges, I didn’t like people for the wrong reasons, my priorities weren’t straight, I was lazy in school, I lied because I was scared to tell the truth, I let things and people distract me – I could go on and on about what I didn’t like about myself, but I know you guys aren’t trying to read a five-page post lol. But on a serious note, it honestly disgusts me to say that I once had these qualities/characteristics, but I am proud to say, I am not that person anymore.
I am still young, and have a lot more to learn and experience in this life. I’m not perfect – no one is, but we can strive to be for the sake of being better people.
We can’t erase the past, it is what it is – so why dwell on it? If there’s something you wish you could change, stop wishing, because it’s not possible. You can’t change your past, but you can make change for the present and future.
Be happy that you’ve gone through the things you wish you hadn’t experienced – and most importantly, be thankful because at the end of the day, it all works out for the better – even if you don’t think or see it just yet.
I’ve made it a habit of thanking God everyday for giving me another day to live, and for everything He has put me through: guiding me to be the person I am today, and I look forward to the many changes I will go through in the future. It’s all part of His plan.
If you reflect on your past five years from today, will you be happy with the kind of person you were? If not, make change now, and in the future, the thought of changing something about your life won’t even come to mind.
If you have a question you’d like to ask me, please email them to info@jendeleon.com.
If you’d like them to be anonymous, you can submit them on my ask.fm account.
Read other “Ask Jen” posts here.