A Non-Bernie Birthday Post

Bonjour peeps!

Despite that cute intro, this is not Ellie. This is a secret hacker trying to take over the world. Just kidding. It's actually Sarah, Bernie's awesome big sis. Some of you might know me from my blog Forever Changed. And those of you who have no idea I am, can learn from this post.

Today is Ellie's birthday. (And shhh, she doesn't know I'm posting yet)  I won't talk about the age because Ellie doesn't seem too excited to be growing up. I'm sure most of you know her as a nice, creative, and slightly strange. Truthfully, though, she is not slightly strange. She is extremely crazy. While I can show you tons of evidence proving that fact, I'll leave it up for you to connect the dots.

But Ellie and I have a lot of history... being sisters and all. I met her when I was two. She met me when she was a few hours old. Ever since then, we kind of hit it off. Though she is my little sister, I learn a lot from her. That's what I would like to talk about today. Because I love lists, here are five lessons I have learned from Bernie!

1. Being weird is not a bad thing.
As young adults, we are all pressured to be somebody, to fit into this little box. But Ellie showed me that it is not only possible to blow up that box, but it's actually fun to do it, too. Yes, people will give you awkward stares and question your sanity every now and then, but all the same, weird isn't bad. The important thing is being original and having fun while doing it.

2. It's okay if your friends think you're kinda crazy.
There was a time when I was careful of what to say around my friends. What if they I'm stupid or nuts? Nowadays, most of my friends do think I'm nuts, but I'm glad.  True friends put up with you---the entire package, not a personal selection. Bernie's best friends know she is insane, but they love her to pieces anyway.

3. You can always have kiddie obsessions.
You might know that Bernie is obsessed with hot-wheels and playing baseball with "the bro." She has names for the hot-wheels and everything. Yes, that sounds a little immature, but it's fun. I, myself, have an obsession with all things Olaf, the ADORABLE snowman on Frozen. But, hey, that's another story.

4. Weirdness is best when you're weird with someone else.
One of my all-time favorite quotes is this one from, Alice in Wonderland, when Alice addresses the Mad Hatter. "You've gone completely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret: the best people are."  Being crazy is always a blast when you have some other weirdo who can be insane with you. Ellie and our group have the time of our lives with our crazy buddies.

5. Normal is boring.
I am not popular. I don't have a ton of friends. I don't go somewhere every Friday night. But you know what? Ellie showed me that as long as you forget normal, life can be a blast, no matter where you are. When you think about it, nothing in the Bible is normal either. So that's why normal is overrated.

The list could go on, but I'll let it stop for now. Hope you like it! And hey, if you have time, drop Bernie a birthday comment. She would be thrilled.

Later, lovelies! 
~Sarah:)