This past weekend my Facebook newsfeed was flooded with pictures of so many friends accomplishing such a challenging task – graduating from college. Now that my friends and I are a year out in the wild blue yonder of “adulthood,” I can confidently say that this stage comes with a whole new set of challenges. When finishing school, my excitement for newness catipulted me into vocational ministry with my youth group, and continuing to pursue building a photography business. The newness has definitely faded, but even today I noticed that I’m better at my job than I used to be, the roots of my plant on my windowsill at work are stronger and longer. (It is a water based plant so you can see them, just in case you needed the visual). So if I were to give myself advice a year ago, here’s what I’d tell myself:

1. First of all, take courage, dear heart. This will be harder than you think. More beautiful, too, but still harder.
2. I realize you’ve left all of your friends and they’re not all in a 2 mile radius anymore, but I promise being bold and meeting new people is more rewarding than binging on The Office for the 6th lap.
3. You have to literally write down and block off time to hang out with distant friends, but that won’t diminish how much you care for them and how much they care for you.
4. Please. Just please learn how to say no. Give yourself space to breath in your busy days, because those become busy months, and busy years.
5. People over work. (In college my motto was people over homework)
6. Go to more concerts.
7. I know, living at home feels like you’re going backwards. But your days living with your parents are numbered, and the moments you get to spontaneously try out a new show together or go get lunch just because will soon end.
8. Pray more often and more boldly.
9. Guilt and fear and shame are not from the Lord. Boldly stand against them.
10. And lastly, this is an adventure. Begin new things, chase after the newness you once felt when you first graduated. Newness is a mindset, not a point in time.

And just when I was reflecting on all of this, this came on my Facebook memories, all the housemates at our grad party!

And last but not least, look at this absolutely ridiculous picture of Shadi (the fiancé who you can meet here).