to thine own self be true.

One of the most important life lessons I've ever learned (and I believe I will ever learn) is that you must stay true to yourself. It takes time to get there, my friends, and sometimes I'm still working on it. Let me tell you, this lesson really hits you when you teach sweet, young children and you watch them do just about anything to fit in with their friends. It hurts the heart to watch them compromise the make up of their innocent little souls just so that they can be a part of it all. Sometimes I just want to hug them and say, "You are enough!" And you know what? Sometimes I do! They don't really get it, but maybe someday they will.

At the beginning of last school year, I wrote inspirational quotes on each page of my planner because I knew I'd want them. I'm a quote lover through and through. I've got one for about every situation imaginable. Try me.

On a particularly hard week, I had to thank past-Roxanne for helping future-Roxanne. See, past-Roxanne filled the planner with quotes not really knowing the obstacles that future-Roxanne might encounter. Past-Roxanne did a pretty good job (and now I'll stop talking about myself in the third person). The quote read "The more you love your decisions, the less you need others to love them." I don't know who said that, but if it was you, please tell me so that I can give you a big ol' hug! I can't tell you how freeing that quote was in that moment. I felt like I could conquer the world and that no one could stop me because I make my own decisions. There are some moments when I'm so proud of myself and the things that I do and say for this life of mine (there are just as many — probably more — where I'm not so proud, but it's a work in progress!) and this was one of those moments. To feel content in my own skin, yes! I felt at peace with my decisions. What's more, I felt proud of them! See, I believe that it starts with me. If I am content — if I am happy — I will do what's right for me. Happiness radiates from within. It starts the moment we start working on ourselves and doing that takes — you guessed it! — work! There is no way around it. No other path. No short cut. It is the sweat you put into it that will reward you on the other side.

If you are truly content with who you are, and you take pride in the qualities that God (or whomever or whatever you believe!) gave you, the rest will fall into place. We are each given qualities that will ultimately lead to the path we are meant to land on, but it doesn't just happen. We make decisions to get there. We say, "This and not this," or "That one and not that one." It's not always that easy, but that's what it basically boils down to. What's the most exciting about all of this, is that it's always a work in progress! I can learn from me. I can look at my decisions and rewrite my path as many times as I want to, and I can do it with grace and belief in myself as a person, as a lover of life. What a wonderful realization! To know that I have the power and ability to make my life beautiful and wonderful and tailor made for me! It all starts with looking inside myself and listening to my inner workings and honoring what they whisper to me in the more trying moments.

Lest you think this is easy and I do it all the time, I don't and it's not! We are each granted small moments of wisdom when the window of clarity bursts open and I believe it is my duty to share those moments with you. I get thrown off my path — sometimes quite frequently — but what matters is that I get back on it and walk with purpose and peace and contentedness in who I am! Pep talk over. :)

P.S. Comments are my absolute favorite! I love talking with you and hearing your two cents. (I reply to most comments!)