by Cheri Chesley
I remember being twelve and about to get in the shower when I realized I had worn my underwear inside out all day. Looking back, that pretty much sums up my life—almost ideal but with obvious mistakes.
Take my mom, for instance. Please. Kidding, Mom. She’s got an incredibly successful career as a real estate broker, and she’s gorgeous. I mean, nice hair, trim figure; my mom’s attractive. But she’s stuck with me for a daughter. Not exactly pudgy, but not trim and fit either. She smiles and introduces me as her big-boned daughter to her friends and coworkers. I admit it; I hate exercise. I walk to the library, but that’s about it. And I love junk food, but what fourteen-year-old doesn’t? We’re like junk food’s target audience.
I came across this file on my computer today. What do you think? Did I get into the head of a 14 yr old girl? Is she sympathetic to you, or is it too soon? Would this make you want to keep reading?
The problem is, I have no idea where I was going with this. It already sounds to me like some coming-of-age kind of story, where the girl has to grow to accept herself even if she's different from her idea of ideal. I think that sort of story resonates with almost everyone. I'm 35 (shhh!), but if I had a magic wand there are definitely things I'd change about me.
But then I get into this whole internal discussion about want vs. need, and how much more we tend to value something if we've truly earned it and not had it handed to us--you know, the same kinds of things I tell my kids EVERY DAY.
Yesterday, I finally finished reading 3 Nephi and read 4 Nephi, since it's so short. I'd forgotten how rich those chapters are, filled with all the things Christ would tell us if he were here with us now. Which is why I'm so grateful we have those scriptures. Here's the one that stood out to me most:
Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (3 Nephi 12:16)
(thanks to blog.silive.com for the image)
2 comments:
I love comparing the inside-out underwear to her life, but I think she'd have more resentment if her mom introduced her as a "big-boned" daughter. Most people would just say, "this is my daughter," not this is my tall/short/fat/skinny/smart/dumb daughter. Know what I mean?
I was definitely in her head. I was thinking it was you when you were a teen. Great start of something.
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