I Will Not Allow That

I almost let it happen again.

***

Harsh words, promises broken, faith destroyed.

I promised myself that when it happened, I would not let it change me, beat me down, steal my joy, make me into a person I cannot love.

I almost let exactly that happen. 

But I have discovered in my 30 years of life, that I have the choice and the ability to be exactly the person I want to be.  I do not have to let others opinions, attitudes, judgments, words or anything else change that.

And I won't.

I will not allow myself to be defined by you or anyone else. 

Thank you for making me stronger. 

Thank you for opening my eyes - yet again - to my own potential and just how far I still get to travel. 

Thank you for reminding me of what I have to give, and what I have to lose.

***

And now, here's a pretty picture. 

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

- William Shakespeare