Bure Natasha - Lets be real: living life as an open and honest you

ZONDERVAN

Lets Be Real

Copyright 2017 by Natasha Bure

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Epub Edition February 2017 ISBN 9780310760832

ISBN 978-0-310-76093-1

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Cover design: Cindy Davis

Interior design: Denise Froehlich

Printed in the United States of America

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To my incredible parents, Papa and Mom

thank you for raising me up in the Lords

Word and for giving me the most spectacular

life. Without your guidance, never-ending

love, and support, I dont know where I

would be. Thank you for putting up with a

wild child for eighteen-plus years. I love you.

To my brothers Lev and Maksimyou

two are my best friends, and I am so

glad I got to grow up with both of you

by my side. Thank you for the laughter,

memories, and stories that Im going to

keep in my heart forever. I love you.

I first met Natasha when we were both juniors in high school. It was the nineteenth season of Dancing with the Stars, and I had been paired up with her moms previous dancing partner, Mark Ballas. I was thrilled to be introduced to Natasha, because I didnt have a ton of girls my age to hang out with while I was filming in LA. We attended the Movieguide Awards together, and we were dancing like crazy girls in the back of the ballroom while Lecrae performed. Everyone else was sitting and observing the stellar performance, but we didnt care. We sang and danced like no one was watching. We had a blast each and every time we were together, while I was competing and even after I left Los Angeles. Not long ago, we walked in the same Sherri Hill fashion show in New York Fashion Week, which was such a fond memory and a special experience that we got to be a part of togetherespecially since it was Natashas first time walking in a runway show. The times that weve spent together have always been filled with laughter and memories that we will have forever.

When Natasha and I first connected, we were both facing issues that pretty much every single teenager faces. She is a super outgoing, passionate, life-loving girl, and she speaks out about these topics in a way you will relate to. Lets Be Real really captures the tough stuff teenagers go through, whether its struggling to be confident or dealing with peer pressure, boy issues, or even staying healthy. Natashas personal stories and experiences come straight from her life and heart, so its easy to flip each page and delve into the advice that she gives.

Being a teen isnt easy, especially with societys expectation of what cool and perfection isit can often lead us down a rabbit hole. Our lives can be so unpredictable while we are trying to figure out who we are and how we want to live our lives. It can be so easy to listen to the voices that surround us, instead of listening to Gods truth and what the Lord has to say about our lives. Learning to be an open and honest you is so crucial to living life to the fullest, and I truly believe that this book can give you the encouragement to do so!

Natasha is here to be real with youflaws, embarrassing moments, quirks, and all. Shes here to talk to you about the issues that some of us dont often want to share with others, because we might not seem cool. Guess what? Thats real life. My message as I speak to everyone is to live original. Who God created you to be. Find the beauty in your heart. So I fully support my girl Natasha teaching readers like you to embrace who God made you to be and figuring out how to navigate life while the world is changing around youall things Lets Be Real is here to help you with.

S ADIE R OBERTSON

I dont know about you, but I love social media. Not only do I get to engage with thousands of people via Instagram and YouTube, I can express my creativity online. In fact, social media has given me opportunities I never dreamed I would have! And like you, I enjoy looking through other peoples posts to find things that inspire me in my life, whether it be with outfits, makeup, fitness motivation, or even some fun recipes to try.

We all know that everything posted online isnt real. We are all guilty of taking dozens of photos, changing angles and lighting, until it looks just right, then tweaking and perfecting until we have the perfect photo to post. Filters on filters just to make sure that its Instagram worthy. But to me, the most interesting thing is always the truth hiding behind those images.

Whats my truth? Well, Im still figuring life out! And its going to take some time. But I do know two things: I love God, and music is my passion. Those two focuses have made life much easier for me to navigate, giving me direction and purpose. I have God, who I want to serve and honor, and music, something I can work toward as my career goal!

Let me give you a little background on why truth and being real is so important to me. Ive always been a performerand if you have been to my YouTube channel, thats probably evident! I started entertaining friends and family when I was little and also sang in church over the years. After high school, I decided not to go to college, instead putting my all into music. I dont recommend that choice for everyone, but I knew what I wanted to do with my life and I knew that this was the time to pursue my dream. Neither of my parents went to college because they both had full-blown careers before they were eighteen. Both have excelled in their very competitive careersmy dad as a former NHL hockey player and Olympian and my mother as a longtime actress and television host. So although they did advise me to go to college first, it wasnt crazy for me to tell them I didnt want to go. I made the riskier choice, knowing that I would have to work as hard as I possibly could and become a mature adult very quickly. Though Im not in college, I am still working hard to improve my skills, studying dance, singing, and actingelements I need to focus on for the career I want to pursue. I have to go for it with everything I have. I cant hold back. Its my path. Failure is not an option for me.