I'm not perfect. You're not perfect. We're not perfect. ❤

I haven't always been strong minded and sassy. As a child, I was the complete opposite. I grew up shy, quiet and afraid of life itself. I had a big imagination and big dreams, but truthfully, I was so shy and afraid that I didn't anticipate any of those becoming a reality. Unfortunately the older I got, the more I let the thoughts, opinions and other external factors get the best of me. 

I always had a large and close group of friends. That was something that always meant a lot to me, and being the girl who ALWAYS took pictures, I still look back on those old photos and reminisce on the good old days when life was so simple, yet we thought it was so hard. I miss being "young" and care free, but I'm also loving where life is going. 

I, like many others in this world, have gone through some very difficult times. I have completely lost myself. I have hurt people I care about greatly. I have lost every care in the world and I have thought about giving up on many important things in my life. Sometimes I look back and I am not proud of who I became and the choices I made, but I have started to reflect on my past so much differently lately. 

We all have one, whether we are proud, disappointed or embarrassed of it, the reality is, we cannot change it. The one thing we can change though, is how our future plays out. We have full control over that. We can choose to be a better person, to reach for our goals and ensure we achieve them. 

It is up to us to learn a lesson from every decision we make, good or bad. It's on us to decide how to proceed in life and whom we want to become. No one can make those choices for you, and quite frankly no one should have to. There are people in your life to guide you and support you, but ultimately we need to learn to walk on our own two feet, take ownership from our mistakes, be proud of ourselves and focus on our growth. 

Life isn't always easy, and if it was, it would be boring. Whenever I am faced with the question "Do you have any regrets?" My answer is always and will always be "No, I don't." I don't regret a single decision I have made because I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and I have learned valuable lessons from my past. We can all be ugly sometimes, and I spent a great deal in a dark place where not only did I hate myself, but I didn't like anyone around me either. 

If you have been there, thank you. If you're still here, thank you. If you're here now, thank you. Every single person who has stepped into my life, and everyone who has stepped out of my life has been here and/or are here for a reason and I am thankful for every single one of you. I am so grateful for all of the amazing people who have loved me through my darkest years, because you a true friends and family that I cannot live without. 

Cheers to strength, growth, happiness and confidence. I am becoming the woman I've always dreamt of being but never seen myself becoming. BE KIND. You never know someone else's story, and we are all fighting a battle you may not even know about. Be a better version of yourself and I promise you will find yourself much happier and satisfied. ❤