Guest Blog: Tara!

Meet Tara, who is one of the funniest, sweetest girls I've ever encountered. I've had the wonderful opportunity to really get to know her over the last two months and she's so great. She's super passionate about what she does and her sun-shiny outlook on life always impresses me! Here is her letter to her 16-year-old self and I learned so much from what she had to say.





Dear 16 year old me,

Hello from 20 year old Tara! Don’t worry… You haven’t gotten all wrinkly or gray yet, and in fact you still love all things ice skating and ice cream more than someone should. You’ve still only kissed that one boy and don’t worry, you’re okay with it! Some things have changed, and you’ve grown too. 

Don’t spend time and energy fretting over your family. Just work on strengthening your relationship with each individual member, and don’t worry about it being perfect and working all together like you wish it would. Just work on how you treat everyone. The divorce doesn’t happen until you’re 20, although I know you’re stressing about it happening any day now. Guess what the weirdest thing about it is? Things are better, and it’s actually happier. It was hard, and I know some days may be hard now that you’re 16 (some days at 20 are hard too), but it’s not your fault and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. Stop stressing about it. It’ll be okay. We have the greatest family. In 16-yr-old-ME lingo, Matt is pretty much amazing. Megan and her HUSBAND (yeah, she got married!!) are freaking awesome, and Jake is the best, fosho! Dad is stinking stellar. Mom is great. Life is awesome!

High school isn’t that bad. It’s okay to *literally* run out the door everyday to head to the ice skating rink (I know you do!). I get it. That’s the place you feel most like you. That hasn’t changed. Ice skating is so rewarding. You still love ice skating more than is humanly possible and you still spend every nickel and dime you earn towards it. If you miss one day of skating practices, it’s not the end of the world. Just remember that everyone in that high school has their own story, and try to really get to know people. No one is “cool”, no one is “out of your league”. Just be nice to everyone. 

Read your scriptures every single day. Do you hear me? Every single day. Eat healthy foods. Lift weights and get a trainer. This will prevent future injuries. Promise.

20 year old Tara is proud of you, little 16 year old Tara. You’re the best! I know life is exciting now. You can finally date and drive! Before you know it, you’ll blink and you’ll be legal and in college. It goes fast. I can’t tell you where you’ll end up for school, because finding out for ourself at age 18 was a strong testimony builder. ((Haha. Just as I was writing to you something came to me, I know you knew what the future held, but finding out and working hard to hear your answers from Heavenly Father is part of the plan. We’ve grown from working at receiving answers. So keep working at it! It strengthens you and makes you, you.)) Just remember, pray-pray-pray!!! Heavenly Father lives. He loves you. He wants what’s best for you. The atonement is real. Utilize it. 

You’re on the right path, you’re doing good. Try to enjoy every moment. Oh, and can you do me a favor? Keep a journal. I want to read all about our adventures.

♥ Tara

PS. You wish you were a dancer now... so, if dance classes even remotely sound interesting to you now, can you sign up? Oh, and I’m serious about getting a trainer. We don’t want you to break your back senior year or something from not having strong enough muscles to hold the impact of all your twisting at skating.