I have written quite a lot of articles offering advice. People come to me and ask my opinion on things. My friends will come in and sit on my bed, and we'll chat, as I offer them advice that sounds pretty darn wise. But how often do I let that advice sink into my own heart?

The answer is "Not often." You see, I love the idea of being wise and offering people advice. I enjoy picking apart their problems and helping them see their circumstances from a different angle. I love being able to be someone's confidant, their right hand girl. But so many times I leave those conversations and find myself lost in my own circumstances.

How come it is so easy to offer advice and so hard to take it? I can tell people "God made you beautiful" until I'm blue in the face, but when I look in the mirror and doubt that in myself, there is a problem. So many times I offered my friends advice about being treated right by friends or relationships, just to find myself putting up with the same type of people in my own life. It's time we all take a good long look at what we dish out, and make sure that we are saving some for ourselves.

If I say God has a plan for you and you shouldn't worry about what the future holds, then that is also true for me. If I say that the relationships you make in college are more important than the grades you make, than I shouldn't have any problem taking some time to enjoy a movie with my roommates. If I say to never forget to thank your parents for all they have done for you, then my parents shouldn't go a day without me giving them all the thanks they deserve.

It's time to take your own advice, so it is also time for me to take my own advice.