STRENGTH

I hope you enjoyed reading my last post, and I'll be honest I read all my posts over and over again, and this one seemed to hit home for me. I cried every time. One thing I've realized while being back at school and even an RA now is that everything is different. The way I feel, how I see people, my patience level with some, but also how much my journey has brought me to where I want to be and even how much stronger I have become, in just a short couple of months. For so long I've wanted to get a tattoo, and the tattoo I designed is simple yet classy; and I'm determined to get it. STRENGTH is what it will say with a butterfly at the end. Strength can't be described in the same context for everyone, we all "see" strength from a different perspective, it may be similar but not exact. Maybe that's why I created this as "strength365" because in all honesty if you have strength everyday and even confidence with every breath you take; you have the power to do and be anything you've ever dreamed of and I've truly learned that in the past couple months. I never in my life thought I would shave my head, but already know that I will do it again; in a heartbeat. I read in a survey that someone did, and the question was "Have or will you ever shave your head?" that person's only response was "I'm not that stupid to do something like that" I sat back and thought about it for a second, and I had a quick response of why not do it? Your helping someone who needs it and are giving something up that is very special to a woman. I had the hardest time the first time I looked at myself in the mirror, but my love for myself has grown stronger because of it. Sometimes I even smile because it reminds me of why I did it and that nothing was able to stop me. I had people question why I was doing it, that it would be a mistake and even that it was stupid. Clearly I disagree and will never feel that way. I did it for the patient that didn't have a choice of losing their hair, the family member that wasn't able to cope and felt weak, or even the girlfriend whose whole world was taken from them and everyday it's a struggle just to get up in the morning because he is no longer here, and that you see is why I did this. For me strength comes in little definitions 1. To have strength is to know where you come from. Your past-you need to accept it and love yourself through every struggle. I'm defintely not who I was years ago, in high school or even 5 months ago. It's constantly changing and each year you realize how important life really is. 2. Your experiences, the struggles that make you who are. With everything you've gone through build upon it with strength and truly grow. You can't fail unless you give up trying. Your still standing, and may have bumps in the road or even a road block but you still have reason to believe and make something of yourself. 3. Respect and believe in the future. Respect yourself with everything you do, if it's with your confidence, relationships, on a professional level, regardless of what your doing--respect yourself because if you don't...who will? Believe in the future: You have to belive in the future and believe in yourself. YOU are you're own motivation and never limit yourself to the possibilities or allow other people to degrade you; because the last time I checked it's your life and no one else should be living it, but you. YOU be the best person you can be. Like I said before, this is probably really different from others perspective but this is what I feel, see, and hear whenever STRENGTH comes to mind. It's powerful; so go beyond what people expect. So, this blog isn't as long as the other and some might be saying (thank you Lord!) but please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers who are battling, have fought and lost, and who are our survivors. Let them know that were thinking of them and love them. Just by doing that you've put a smile on their face.