I never thought the title of a blog post would be a phrase I never quite understood. What is the silver lining anyway? For most of my life, I’ve been an optimistic person. I can be a bit feisty, and will always put my whole heart into what I’m doing. (Maybe that’s why I love writing so much.) I could never say my life was bad – I have more things to be thankful for than most, but still, sometimes things just don’t go as planned.
I was the typical little girl – too many toys, too many dress up clothes, and always surrounded by love. My parents taught me to fight for what I believe, chase my dreams and never give up. Yep – I’m that annoying, All-American girl. And you know what? I’m glad I was. I may not have been prepped for failure (ever), but I was ready for more – success, imagination, desire and most importantly, to go after what I want.
I may not have the perfect dog (he pees anytime someone comes to the door), but he loves me unconditionally. I may be moving back home, but it’s giving me the opportunity to peruse my graduate degree. My friends may be crazy, but they have absolutely made me who I am today. I may be a sorority girl, but I’ve made life long connections and learned more about myself than I ever could alone. I may not get to the top, but it won’t be due to a lack of trying. If I hold on too tightly, it’s because I want to believe it’s right. I may have watched one too many Disney movies, but they’ve taught me it’s OK to have long, beautiful, voluptuous hair – JUST KIDDING – but that relationships can be their own kind of fairy tale. (After all, I’m not into that whole beastly thing, but it worked for Belle.)
After all of the laughs and tears, the most important thing I’ve learned is not to give up. You can always find a new style, a new city or a new car, but you can never find a new you. And you know what, I’m glad, because even through my faults, I’m pretty damn cool. So instead of a letter to my 16-year-old self, I’m going to take this as a note to my 23-year-old self to never stop being myself. After all – everyone else is already taken.
The Parks Department 