Hi friends!!! Sorry that it has been over a month, but we are just now settling into this new semester at college and both Carissa and I have been super busy. Today is/was my birthday!! I’m officially an adult so no more jokes about how I should still be in pre-school. Ha. Quick update: I have pink hair, I chopped 11.5 inches of hair off Carissa, we went to the ER (again), Chelsea and Carissa are coming to TN with me over spring break, Carissa got this huge internship with this cool website called Wattpad, and Chelsea has me addicted to Game of Thrones.
~This post is going to be two-fold, with the first part about dealing with getting older and the second part about being the better person~
So, it’s a well known fact that when we are young all we want to do is grow up. Everyone tries to warn you, telling you to enjoy your childhood while you still have it, but why should we listen to reasonable adults who have already gone through this exact thing? Honestly, I think it stems from children doubting adults once being young. I’ll be honest, it’s hard for me to imagine my dad as a kid. Okay, now i’m giggling while thinking about baby Martin- teehee. ANYWAY!! As you grow older, you start to wish you had heeded that advice. It’s hard to grapple with the fact that you can’t go back, there is no rewind, no re-do, nothing. Depending on your religious beliefs, maybe you are okay with that. And good for you. I’m also aware that even if you don’t fear death or aging, it’s hard to get older.
I am now a legal adult. I’m not under the protection of my parents. I have taxes to do, and bills to pay, and consequences to keep in mind, and new freedoms to handle. It kinda sticks a lot. Here’s the thing though- everyone is going through the exact same thing. Whether that comforts you or not, it’s the truth. So you’re roommate who is a year and a half older than you understands what you’re dealing with. So does your almost 30 year-old sister. The song “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift describes my feelings on the subject. Stop groaning, it’s actually scary accurate and brings me to tears every time.
Your little hand’s wrapped around my finger
And it’s so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you’re dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you everything’s funny, you got nothing to regret
I’d give all I have, honey
If you could stay like thatOh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
I won’t let nobody hurt you, won’t let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow upYou’re in the car on the way to the movies
And you’re mortified your mom’s dropping you off
At 14 there’s just so much you can’t do
And you can’t wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But don’t make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she’s getting older too
And don’t lose the way that you dance around in your pj’s getting ready for schoolOh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
No one’s ever burned you, nothing’s ever left you scarred
And even though you want to, just try to never grow upTake pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother’s favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be goneSo here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It’s so much colder that I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light onWish I’d never grown up
I wish I’d never grown upOh I don’t wanna grow up, wish I’d never grown up
I could still be little
Oh I don’t wanna grow up, wish I’d never grown up
It could still be simple
Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
Won’t let nobody hurt you
Won’t let no one break your heart
And even though you want to, please try to never grow up
Oh, don’t you ever grow up
Oh, never grow up, just never grow up
Okay, enough with the sap and what not, i’m moving on to the “being the better person” topic because Carissa’s little (17) sister has been going through situations that warrant addressing. We’ve all had the experience of someone being rude to us or disrespecting us in a major way and all you really want to do is yell at them and belittle them. DO NOT, WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT DO THIS. It’s taken me a heck of a long time to understand this, but it’s an extremely important life lesson. Be the bigger person. That is so cliche and overused but really, be the bigger person. They aren’t worth your time, and honestly if you stoop to their level how does that make you any different from them? Aren’t you becoming the person you’re against? It’s very easy to make a comment on social media or even to classmates about this person, DON’T DO IT. Take the high road. The probability of this person taking their insecurities out on you is high, and that’s no fault of your. I’m not saying I am great at this- trust me. There have been many times I have wanted to lash out at people for things (ask Carissa lol).
In seventh grade I read this book about the Little Rock Nine. One part of the book that really sticks with me (the whole book has, really) is when the narrator’s body guard gives advice about dealing with bullies. He says something to the effect of “Don’t react. That’s what they are expecting, and it gives them a justification for what they’re doing. Don’t let them have a justification. Make them look unreasonable and horrible. Say things in response they won’t expect.” So basically these people are throwing racial slurs at this poor girl and her response is “thank you.” That is so big to me. People are attacking her. Violating her basic human rights, and her response is thank you??? Bow down. That’s what made MLK Jr. and Gandhi’s movements so big. Nonviolent action. Civil disobedience.
It’s getting a little preachy and I apologize, so i’ll tone it down. As my mama says (the great Queen Elizabeth), there will always be people you don’t like. Even if you’re in the great place ever, there will be at least one person who rubs you the wrong way. You can either dwell on it or realize you’re better than that and move forward.
Much love for everybody! Comment, ask questions, like, etc.
xox,
M
The College Chronicles 