“What would you tell your 18-year-old self?” Nicole Michelle Pertillar posed this question in her powerful book, Originally RED – Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You,* where my full answer to that question is published. At 18 years old I wasn’t happy with who I was. As pictured in the photo, I used to wear men’s clothing in an effort to hide my shape and not draw attention to myself. There were many ways that I hid at that age, because of my own insecurities and because of my insanely jealous and abusive boyfriend. The wrong relationships often have a way of suppressing who we really are, perhaps because we try to manage the irrational thoughts and emotions of someone else as if we are responsible for them. While I still share many of the same likes and dislikes as this 18-year-old young woman, I am finally growing into my purpose and getting in position to do all that God has created me to do. Today I would tell my 18 year-old-self – No more hiding. You are too brilliant to limit yourself because of a man. Be free, pursue relationship with God, and trust your family, they will not steer you wrong.
*You can order Nicole’s book here. Originally RED
