sendiri guru

Honor who you are

Don't ever take the backseat for someone else's dreams because you're scared to act on your own. Dreams stay dreams when you don't pursue them. I also know you like to look at things from all sides. That's the moral relativism in you speaking. You like picking apart motives and understanding people. This will help you immensely in the long run, but can trip you up if you're not careful. Never get so lost in others that you forget where you stand and where you're headed. Some incredible people will cross your path, but you matter just as much as they do. Losing sight of yourself always ends poorly. Just don't do it. Keep improving yourself. Every day. And never stop. You will learn, young grasshopper. You will learn.

Stay strong

You had to be strong for a long time. We both know what true strength is in the face of fear. Never forget what that strength feels like and how important it is to you. Victim mentality can lead down some dark roads. Don't give up your control. It's more useful than you could ever know.

It’s okay to be a goofball

Believe it or not, people like our occasional awkwardness. Is it embarrassing at times? Sure. It's not everyone's cup of tea. But you know what? Perfection is boring. Interesting people make mistakes. And, yes, they also fall down flights of stairs because they trip over their own high heels. Shit happens. Own your own brand. Always be humble enough to laugh at yourself and remember that no one is perfect. Even the ones that look the part.

Listen better.

Right now you aren't the best at this. You like to challenge people when it comes to advice for your life. Sometimes, this is okay. But truth be told. Some things you're discarding will be helpful later on. Open your mind to the advice of others. Take those constructive criticisms better, but be a vigilant discerner of what is helpful and what isn't. You will learn to do this eventually. So get on with it, already.

Time is precious so waste it wisely.

Spend more time being intentional about what you do. Time really is precious and you can waste it doing a lot of things. Make those things productive and meaningful. Write more often. Do less consuming and more producing. Show rather than tell. Time is a commodity that people can spend rather ruthlessly. Don't fall into the trap of recognizing this too late.

Keep up with your responsibilities.

It’s incredible how fast things can spiral out of control if you don't manage them. Be intentional about your lifestyle choices and where they will take you in the future—keep up with your asthma medications, focus on the tasks in front of you, eat better food, brush your damn teeth, keep track of your bills. Prepare yourself for success. And stop drinking so many sodas! Bad harper, bad!

Don't be the excuse guy. No one likes the excuse guy.

If you follow the last point, you won't need excuses. Be on time and keep your promises. Your word is your bond. Don't misrepresent yourself.

Stick with your positive outlook.

Life has the potential to steamroll over us, at times. Tragedies strike, people are separated, disappointments are everywhere you look, but your outlook affects your life direction. As Dumbledore once said, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Stay classy…but know when to say when.

Don't tear other people down. You will witness this a lot. Meanness comes in all kinds of packages—it can even masquerade as kindness—but most days you'll know it when you see it. It's honestly hard to miss. No matter how much you want to go in on someone for something they did, stay civil. Yes, even when you're swept up in a justifiable rage. The caveat is knowing where to draw the line with your kindness and push back. You have to stand up when the occasion calls for it. Just, you know, have some tact when you do it.

You have some territory to cover, young ward, but everything will be okay. The road ahead is long but full of excitement.

Here's looking #harper