I was cleaning out some old boxes recently and I found this picture of myself. It was taken a little over 10 years ago on my honeymoon in South Africa. I picked it up and I just stared at it for a minute or two. I just kept staring at her….this girl in the picture…this girl that is almost a stranger to me now.
This girl… educated, well-traveled, energized…with all of the potential in the world…standing on the precipice of change in her life. Boldly making big moves and smiling through it even though she has no idea what lies ahead. Look at her…
- She just closed on her first home.
- She just started a promising new job.
- She is married for all of one week.
She is relaxed and she is full of optimism.
Locked-in on her smile, I asked myself… “If I had a minute to talk to this girl, what would I tell her? What advice would I give?”
Would I tell her that…
- Within 1 year that job would turn out to be a nightmare?
- Within 2 years the real estate market would collapse?
- Within 10 years her marriage would fail?
My days seem so heavy with responsibility now. She looks so light. Would I tell her she’s a fool for smiling?
But what quickly became clear to me is that I am the fool for thinking — even momentarily — that I am wiser than her; that I had something to teach her…as if I had wisdom to impart from 10 years and thousands of miles down the road.
Look at her smile and the sparkle in her eyes… unknowingly, she already knows… that all she needs is her optimism. Because despite the bumps along the road, the 10 years ahead of her were full of blessings…beautiful babies, new experiences, amazing career shifts, new friendships…
That girl is not taking any advice…she’s giving it…
Be bold. Make big moves. Continue to smile through it…
She and I…we have no idea what lies ahead… and that’s the sweetest thing.