Dear Little Me,
Hola nena, it's been a while! Just looking back on when we used to think that Heavenly Father painted each mountain and sunset every single day, remember that? Remember when we would skip instead of walk because it got us to our destinations faster? Remember flying off to faraway magical lands whose entrance was only attainable through the highest jump on our trampoline? Remember reading about the outside world and wondering what it would be like once we grew up?
I'm still trying to figure that part out. Growing up. Let me tell you that the real world is different than our books, yet exactly the same. There are bad guys out there and maybe they don't steal away princesses, but opposition is real and there will be those that want to steal our true identity as a Daughter of God. Heavenly Father might not get out a paintbrush every day, but He orchestrates our lives in the most beautiful of connections and happenstances.
I wish I could tell you the answers of all of the lessons I've learned these past twenty-two years, but I'll keep those for you to experience yourself. Just know that each mistake, each failure, each tear, and furiously written poem will bring us closer to who we need to be. Good luck. Don't worry. Just listen to Mami and our siblings, they will tell us what we need to hear, even when we don't want to hear it.
Oh little me! I wish I could protect you from all of the fear and disgusting words, the negative workplaces, the lost souls, the wars, the anger, and loss of humanity that this world is happily inviting in. I wish I could keep you safe from the bad guys, but guess what? It gets to a point where you figure out who you are and then, they can't hurt us any more. So just keep swimming (you'll get that reference in a few years) and all will be well.
Each year we'll face trials harder than the last, but we will have all of the fun along the way. I love who I am today, who you become, who we are still becoming. I love each year God gives us more and more. Here are some little tidbits, but if you choose to not heed them its okay. We'll turn out just fine regardless.
*Spend more time with our primos. They were raised similarly to us and understand our insanity in a way that others cannot.
*Missionaries are human as well. I know they look perfect, but sometimes they have hard days just like the rest of us, so be nice to them and give them referrals.
*Boobs are fun, but don't waste time wishing ours were bigger. We're lucky and get to take off our bras at home while others can't get a way with it.
*Forgive faster. It will hurt for a long time, and we won't forget it completely, but let go of the anger and the peace we are looking for will come. I promise.
*Don't listen to Brother Baker's prediction of us getting married six months out of high school. He doesn't know all of the adventures we'll have for the next six years and counting. It feels good to prove people like that wrong.
*Dye your hair pink in China. Their hair is black, ours is brown. Save us all some ridiculous pictures and dye our hair pink intead.
*Keep up piano lessons! I know its confusing switching from the alto to treble and bass cleff, but just try or we'll be sitting in the basement for hours at twenty-two trying to figure out "I am a child of God".
*Respect yourself. Others, especially boys, won't respect us if we don't respect ourselves. I'm telling you now that we are our own brand of beautiful. Nothing more, nothing less.
*Write letters.
*Love freely.
*Buy the stilettos.
*Read your scriptures.
*Trust. Trust that you are a Daughter of the Almighty God and He does love us. Trust that our mother knows what she is talking about. Trust that the answers will be there, even if they don't come when we want them. Trust that He listens to our prayers, no matter what languages they are in. Trust in Him.
I love you my sweet little me. So does our Heavenly Father. You will grow up to be exactly who we are. And that is just fine with me.
Your future self,
Diana Leaney López Ruano
PS- RED lipstick. NOT Cherry Blossom Pink. RED.
I'm still trying to figure that part out. Growing up. Let me tell you that the real world is different than our books, yet exactly the same. There are bad guys out there and maybe they don't steal away princesses, but opposition is real and there will be those that want to steal our true identity as a Daughter of God. Heavenly Father might not get out a paintbrush every day, but He orchestrates our lives in the most beautiful of connections and happenstances.
I wish I could tell you the answers of all of the lessons I've learned these past twenty-two years, but I'll keep those for you to experience yourself. Just know that each mistake, each failure, each tear, and furiously written poem will bring us closer to who we need to be. Good luck. Don't worry. Just listen to Mami and our siblings, they will tell us what we need to hear, even when we don't want to hear it.
Oh little me! I wish I could protect you from all of the fear and disgusting words, the negative workplaces, the lost souls, the wars, the anger, and loss of humanity that this world is happily inviting in. I wish I could keep you safe from the bad guys, but guess what? It gets to a point where you figure out who you are and then, they can't hurt us any more. So just keep swimming (you'll get that reference in a few years) and all will be well.
Each year we'll face trials harder than the last, but we will have all of the fun along the way. I love who I am today, who you become, who we are still becoming. I love each year God gives us more and more. Here are some little tidbits, but if you choose to not heed them its okay. We'll turn out just fine regardless.
*Spend more time with our primos. They were raised similarly to us and understand our insanity in a way that others cannot.
*Missionaries are human as well. I know they look perfect, but sometimes they have hard days just like the rest of us, so be nice to them and give them referrals.
*Boobs are fun, but don't waste time wishing ours were bigger. We're lucky and get to take off our bras at home while others can't get a way with it.
*Forgive faster. It will hurt for a long time, and we won't forget it completely, but let go of the anger and the peace we are looking for will come. I promise.
*Don't listen to Brother Baker's prediction of us getting married six months out of high school. He doesn't know all of the adventures we'll have for the next six years and counting. It feels good to prove people like that wrong.
*Dye your hair pink in China. Their hair is black, ours is brown. Save us all some ridiculous pictures and dye our hair pink intead.
*Keep up piano lessons! I know its confusing switching from the alto to treble and bass cleff, but just try or we'll be sitting in the basement for hours at twenty-two trying to figure out "I am a child of God".
*Respect yourself. Others, especially boys, won't respect us if we don't respect ourselves. I'm telling you now that we are our own brand of beautiful. Nothing more, nothing less.
*Write letters.
*Love freely.
*Buy the stilettos.
*Read your scriptures.
*Trust. Trust that you are a Daughter of the Almighty God and He does love us. Trust that our mother knows what she is talking about. Trust that the answers will be there, even if they don't come when we want them. Trust that He listens to our prayers, no matter what languages they are in. Trust in Him.
I love you my sweet little me. So does our Heavenly Father. You will grow up to be exactly who we are. And that is just fine with me.
Your future self,
Diana Leaney López Ruano
PS- RED lipstick. NOT Cherry Blossom Pink. RED.
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