You must be willing to step outside of your comfort zone if you plan on interacting closely with another human being - especially one who deserves your time and energy. I say that NOT to say you should lower your standards, but to say if there is an aspect of the life you want for yourself that doesn't have to be exsctly the way you imagined it, you should compromise. You should recognize what's important and always follow that. Keep your integrity. Follow your gut.

~until next time

Do things because it will make someone else happy. Be yourself at all times. Say silly things. Take risks. Walk onto ledges with every intention of trusting someone enough to catch you when you jump. Say what you mean. Explain what you want. Expect nothing. Give what you wish to get. Laugh often. Love openly. Give abundantly. Share yourself.

And post to your blog more often lol

​~until next time

There will be times in your life when you feel betrayed and disregarded by the people who are supposed to have your back more than anyone. You will feel stepped on and stepped over and you'll be mad as hell. Now I don't know how you handle your anger and your hurt but I hope you will at least put aside your pain to see the big picture. See intentions, and don't tell yourself made up stories to support your pain. You are valid. Your feelings are valid no matter what anyone says. Just look at what is actually going on and not what you want to tell yourself. Try to see how setting aside your anger can help you to accomplish a goal.

And I know I sound crazy, but trust me. Going through this process is extremely difficult. It's so trying on the very fiber of my personality, but the end result is rewarding. The end result is me putting myself aside so my daughters can be the happiest little people they can possibly be.

If you love anyone more than you love yourself, hear my words and use them to help you through your own experiences. We all have our stories and no two are the same, but we can use each other to bring more light and positivity to our own circles. That's my goal.... to bring more light to your circle.... let's do it together.

~until next time

If you are lucky enough to find one person, let alone a group of people, who accept you as you are and encourage you, don't ever let them go. I have been blessed in the last year and a half of my life to find a group of ladies who love me just the way I am. I can say exactly what's on my mind and they whole-heartedly listen to me objectively. They hear my words, then they hear where I'm coming from and they respond accordingly. They have given me words of encouragement regarding my life as a single mother. They have given me dating advice. Most importantly, though, they have shared genuine laughter with me in the most vulnerable of ways. They do not judge and do not shout. They are firm but loving. They are supportive. They are welcoming. They have opened their hearts to me in ways people I've known my whole life have not done.

This, my people, is friendship. This is how it should be.

Now, it is late and I am tired. Goodnight, and I hope every one of you finds the equivalent of what I've had come into my life.

~until next time

There's a drink in my hand........ well, next to me, but it was in my hand a moment ago and it will be again in a moment from now. This is not my first drink that I now have sitting next to me. Honestly, it's not even my second; and needless to say, I'm feeling a bit more HONEST than usual.

I want you to know that I understand you feel you're reading excerpts from the life of a complete stranger, but I do want you to know me. There are things about my life - both current and past - that I think are important for you to learn so you can take full advantage of my words and message. There are things that are necessary for you to truly take this journey with me. There are realizations about myself that I need to share with you in order for you to hear me and know I'm not just talking because I have an audience.

Let me tell you a bit of truth: EVERYTHING I put on this website is from personal experience. If I seem vague about the details of what caused me to say what I said, it's most definitely because I'm respecting the privacy of others. I mean, come on, I told you about feeling like a crack-head because I cracked a filling in my tooth. So here you go:

My father has been a distant part of my life for pretty much all of my life, although I believe he has a good heart and good intentions most of the time. My mother is the best of the best that I could ever wish for. I am the oldest of my siblings, only one of whom I'm truly close with. The others I love DEARLY, there are just some realities we deal with: one has passed on in a way I wouldn't wish on an enemy, one was adopted and I've only ever seen him once about 12 years ago, and the other is doing fine with the cutest children but we just don't reach out all the time. I have two daughters who can have the skin off my back if they needed it. I have few friends. I had a rough childhood. I have family members I refuse to have a relationship with... and I'm in love with a man I'm not in a relationship with.

Here's my point: I'm a normal person with a past, present, and future, and everything I share with you is because I want you to grow with me and be yourself. I want you to be a part of my life, and I want to be a part of yours. So feel free - encouraged, even - to share your stories with me. Let's build a relationship through just being our authentic selves and see what happens. Let's be open and honest with ourselves when we're in this shared space. Let's be honest with ourselves always.

Visit JustBeYou's "Share Your Story" page and share your life and feelings with me.

~until next time