Letter to my 18-year-old self
23rd August 2011 by MORE
Dear Rod,
You have just turned 18 and it’s your final year of high school. It’s strange, but after 13 years of schooling and now approaching your HSC, you have suddenly lost interest. You are heading into what should be the most stressful period of your young life but you seem to have a suddenly developed a carefree “whatever” attitude. I guess, being the son of Salvation Army officers, and having moved between the very different school systems of three different states, it has finally caught up with you and has kind of messed with your enthusiasm.
I know you also HATE having to conform and wear a uniform – but guess what? Next year you will be free. You will find your own style, grow your hair down to your shoulders and start to discover who you really are. The following year will be one of your favourite years of your life. You start your first job (which is totally boring) but you make some great, new, older friends and you start to become the "real" you.
You will never use virtually anything you learnt in school – never need to find the square of the hypotenuse, use algebra or trigonometry. Instead your hobbies and interests outside of school, such as cartooning and comics, will develop and they will be what you pursue in life.
Life won’t go quite as you expect it to. I guess when you are an 18-year-old who grew up in a fairly conservative Salvation Army home, you look at those around you and expect you too will probably be married in your early 20’s, have a couple of kids and a mortgage – but instead, due to health circumstances with your mother and the fact you refuse to settle for a regular full-time job – life takes you on a different route.
Anxieties about your future will set in when you see life isn’t turning out how you expect it to … and especially when you realise your mother will pass away long before you ever imagined. But I guess I’m writing to tell you that you will be a lot stronger when facing these circumstances than you give yourself credit for.
An important lesson for you to learn – and to apply to all areas of your life – is to not worry about things which haven’t happened. Stop projecting the future and fearing how things may or may not turn out. In many cases they turn out very differently to what you expect and you have wasted a lot of time worrying for nothing.
Even when your mum finally does pass away, this moment will actually be a lot more peaceful than you anticipate and you will be surrounded by family and friends. From the day she goes you will have an overwhelming sense of peace about the situation.
Though life isn’t unfolding for you as you expect it to, God will take amazing care. So try not to worry so much, OK! Chill and just find the peace that only he can give. He will draw many great, life-long friends to you and take care of all your personal needs right when you need them – a house, a zippy little car, freedom and most importantly, a job doing exactly what you have always wanted to do – create! For a living you will draw, act, dance, make comics, produce toys, write books – have an outlet for your imagination which has never stopped.
Life will have its twists and turns, its ups and downs – as it does for everyone – but you will retain your happiness, your love of life, your health, your weight, your individuality and most importantly – your hope for the future. You now understand that God’s plans are to prosper and not harm you. Approach each day with a peaceful attitude and concentrate on the things (and people) that make you happy. It may not be the life you imagined for yourself, but it’s a great life and I anticipate, it still has greater things to come.
Rod
Rod Allen is the Music and Creative Arts Production Designer – Agents of Truth for The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory.
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Comments
Thanks for sharing, Rod =)
Hey Rod, I feel a similar kind of message for my 18yo self... relax and don't rush! Where does all this pressure come from???
Good encouragement for all youngsters..
This is great Rod! Thanks for sharing your heart so openly through this letter. It was rad :)
Hey Rod, thanks for a wonderful, obviously heartfelt piece. You are one of the first who come to mind in the 'whoever would have thought' category when you look at what you are doing now! The Lord has truly has His hand on your life, and what amazing things He is using you for now for His Kingdom. May He continue to bless you heaps and heaps as you continue to seek ways to use the amazing talents he has given you for His glory.
Karen. xx
Personally, I'm just loving the pic of hairy Rod :)
Ironically this article has come online the very day I have come home to make the decision to put my mum's little dog, who i have owned for 6 years, to sleep later tonight at the vet's.
Very very very sad as she was the happiest and funniest little dog who lived - and to see this article again today when life is taking another emotional turn just reminds that, when I look back through other events, they come to pass and life moves on ... just as the situation I have to go through later tonight will too.
LOVE it Rod... love your honesty & congratuations on staying the same weight! Hillarious and remarkable.. you are an amazing man! x
Awesome article Rod! It is so great to see you being used so mightily by God through the Agents. I look back at THQ days and remember there was always a laugh when you were around, and your mum was an awesome encourager for me! Thanks for sharing your heart as only you can!
Hi Rod - it was great to hear you share about your ministry and passion for sharing the gospel with kids through your God-given talents and gifts on Sunday. And again to read your letter to your 18 year old self is inspiring to share a little insight into your life from your own perspective. God has certainly held you well through the tough times. Sad about your little dog - praying that God will sustain you as you grieve again. Blessings - Allison
Rod, thanks for sharing your letter. I am pleased to hear that your faith is still strong and your life is brighter now than when you studied math. Hair is over-rated isn't it? Please continue to bless the Salvos with your awesome creative gifts. Sorry to hear about your dog.
Rod, picked up on your testimony through my cousin Jan sharing a link. Thank you for your honesty and courage as you shared from your heart. As you have shared - I have been encouraged and blessed. I pray God will continue to use you mightly for the Kingdom in the days and years to come.