“She’s messy, but she’s kind(a funny).”
I vividly remember being a little girl, probably around 4 years old, when my mom put on the Sound of Music for the first time. Now, I don’t want to be dramatic, but my life was changed. From that day on, every time when I was home sick or “sick”, I, without fail, watched this movie. I was transported into a life of singing and dancing and matching outfits — all for the better. It is, to this day, my favorite movie, and the one that I feel like had a the largest hand shaping who I am as a person. As I reflect on the film right now, I realize it’s quite scandalous in nature. Which, I mean, same. But, let me explain, Frauline Maria gets kicked out from the Abbey to be a nanny, and she falls in love with the father of the 7 kids she’s liable for. Now THAT’S my kind of love story. Just sayin’.
But, the best thing about Frauline Maria is that she also brings a sense of love and happiness into a home that wasn’t there before, which, at the end, is my come all end all goal in life.
Age 5
Loved:
Barbies
Playing dress up
Going to dance class
*tragically, this ended because I used to push the other girls out of the way and apparently that wasn’t allowed. C’est la vie.
Right before Frauline Maria is about to embark on this new adventure as a nanny she sings the song, “I Have Confidence.” Now, I don’t know if you’ve been able to pick up on anything about me, but confidence is something that my parents, Jewels & Dave, and of course, Frauline Maria, have installed in me from day one.
My favorite verse from the song goes,
“With each step I am more certain,
Everything will turn out fine,
I have confidence the world can all be mine,
You’ll have to agree I have confidence in me”
And this simple truth has been the basis of how I’ve lived and believed how life should be.
Age 13
Loved:
Juicy Couture
Shopping
John Sells in math class*
*Okay look, John Sells now plays football for Baylor so I’m still rooting for one this to work out
But what else do I believe?
Well, in another life there’s a 95% chance I was British aristocracy.
I know that the people who make you laugh so hard your kidneys hurt are just about the only people I’m interested in having in my life.
That the best way to achieve anything is through elbow grease and grit.
That we should try everything, because we never know what we might be good at.
Art, music, theatre, books, and movies are the things that make life, and quite frankly people, interesting.
That nothing is more important than the wellbeing of your soul.
That life is more fun when living in excess grandure.
That traveling is the best way to learn.
And, most importantly, that I have the ability to make a difference wherever I am.
Age 21
Loves:
London
Books
Spending time on boys she shouldn’t
Mindy Kaling wrote this at the end of her book “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me” and it’s always stuck in my mind:
“Work hard, know your stuff, show your stuff, and then feel entitled. Listen to no one except the two smartest and kindest adults you know, and that doesn't always mean your parents. If you do that, you’ll be fine.”
So, in closing, so long, farewell, don’t be afraid to climb every mountain, and for crying out loud don’t fall in love with cute Nazi sympathizers no matter how great the dance sequence in the garden gazebo is. Don’t worry Liesel, I had to learn that one the hard way too.