Jessie Rex Services, LLC

Before I heard “Brand New”, while talking and really listening to a friend,  I watched their expressions as they spoke. For some reason, at that moment, it made me think about what they were like when they were 17. I found it amusing and charming, and I felt as if I had known them for a long time.  This happened again, speaking with another friend. I observed their expressions and feelings, and how they used their words, as I looked into their eyes. Although I was seeing them around my age, I was also seeing a teenager speaking to me. I then spent some time thinking about how I feel when I’m with other people and when I’m alone. Something occurred to me, we are all really just 17.

 

7 is the stage in life where we’re not a child and yet not an adult. We are in the process of learning, living, and just enjoying life.  We like being with our friends, laughing, and having fun. That’s who we still are today, but with responsibilities, situations, circumstances, and other areas of life seeming to take over or consume us. At times, we forget what it’s like when we were 17. We don’t ever get older than 17; we just add knowledge, wisdom, and experience to our 17-year-old self. Of course, like to remind us we certainly are not 17 anymore as we continue to age. Our hair gets gray and thinner, our skin wrinkles, and we may need aids to hear and see better.  But our core self is still 17.

 

I know a precious lady in her 80’s, and  I love her eyes. They are so shiny and sparkle. Her body has aged, but her eyes-the windows to her soul- are young.  She’s still 17 inside, but her body and her mind have continually grown and changed through the years. When you want to see someone’s 17 emerge, watch them when they talk about a passion, someone, or something they love, or a precious memory. Challenge: When things get too serious, or I work too much, I find myself wondering what my 17-year-old self would do. How would I handle the same situation at 17, but now with more knowledge, remaining the fun person who realizes we’re not supposed to take life too seriously? In the song, when he says “I feel like 17”, not only do I want to relate, but I want it to be a reminder of the way I want to live. I want to share love and life with all those around me. I will be excited for what’s to come, worry less, enjoy the moments, laugh with my friends, love my family, go on adventures, and just be me.  We can always take the time to recall how we felt at 17. That makes us feel brand new!

 

And if you need a little inspiration, check out one of my favorite movies from years ago, 17 Again. It’s a fun movie with a great little life lesson.