What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?
By Mary Lou Andre
As Mary Lou celebrates a milestone birthday, she reflects on 5 life lessons that never go out of style.
All of us are celebrating next chapters.
New jobs, retirement. Weddings and anniversaries. New babies, becoming grandparents. Milestone birthdays and new decades.
Earlier this month I said goodbye to one decade and embraced a new one.
Being born on the 4th of July, it’s hard to hide on your birthday so I simply allowed the day to unfold and become as it was meant to be.
My husband and two boys hosted a small backyard dinner party in my honor at our beach house. It was a blessing to have my extended “Sullivan” family, special neighbors and a few life-long friends in attendance. It was the first birthday party I had since I was 16!
My sweet sister-in-law gathered 60 wishes from 60 people throughout my 60 years and we went late into the night reading them. An unexpected gift that I will always cherish.
One of the wishes arrived with this photo taken on my 16th birthday by a dear friend in the very same beach neighborhood where my family still gathers.
Not only did I spend my childhood summers and teen years on this same beach, I got engaged to my husband here and raised my children to love the beach and ocean on these shores as well.
They say a photo speaks a thousand words. To me, this one sure does.
As I look back and look forward, here are some things that I’d tell my 16-year-old self:
• People will come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. Know when to let some go, wait for others to return and hold on tight to the ones that bring out the best in you.
• Act on your dreams. My parents had a vision of how they wanted to raise us and worked hard to make this beach community a reality. They taught me to dream big too.
• Sharing your gifts is the best path for a fulfilling life. The doors were always wide open at my childhood home in Nanumett Shores. Ours are too.
• Mistakes are the growing pains of wisdom. Each one is a gift and opportunity if you pay attention. Learn to pay attention!
• Always, remember where you came from. ❤️
For me, aging is celebrating. How lucky am I to still be here meeting new people, growing my well-honed business in new and fulfilling ways and watching my kids thrive. Pinch!
Do I have a few more wrinkles? Sure! I prefer to call them happy lines.
Finally, it is not lost on me that I am wearing red, white and blue (my signature birthday colors!) and high-waisted jean shorts (that are now back in style!) Even back then, I celebrated with fashion. Do what makes your heart sing too!
On Instagram? Please hop over to @marylouandrestyle and share your life lessons under this photo. I just posted it there as well. We all learn from each other and I’d be honored for you to share your wisdom on my special birthday post. Here’s to all of us!