INTRODUCTION
The original title of this book was to be “four things my parents should have told me.” As I talked to people about this book, what became apparent is that there are hundreds of things people wish their parents would have told them. So I say to you, dear readers who have taken the time to open this book, think about something you wish your parents would have told you and TELL your children or young people in your life. Hug them. Ask them a question about themselves and truly listen to their answer. Play a game with them. Tell them they are good at something. A few minutes of positive reinforcement every day could change their lives. Say “I believe in you.”
During the course of writing and researching for this book, I realized I am now responsible for the top “four things” I wish I had known. If I continue to blame, I will never get better. If I don’t forgive and forget--move on and forward--I will never be the person I want to be or the person I hope to be for others.
Therefore, if I had the chance to go back and “re-do” some key moments of my life, the next four chapters outline these things.
These things have affected ALL aspects of my well being. They have affected my self esteem, my self worth, and nearly all of my daily choices. I struggled for years with what “I should be doing” and what “I should be at my age” and what “I should have financially” and what “I should look like.” I have made so many mistakes and taken so many careless actions in life. I wholeheartedly believe that I was only blessed to get through all of it to share the message contained within these pages. I thank God every single day for the angels that have been placed along the path of my life and for all that I have and for all that I am. Cliché as it is, I appreciate every breath of every day, every breeze that blows across my face, every time I feel the warmth of the sun…and that is because I was once in a place where the breeze didn’t blow and the sun didn’t shine.
All I hope to achieve with the words on these pages is that maybe one person who has lost hope will know that there is someone out here who believes in them, who knows they can achieve their dreams, and will listen to them if they need an ear.
In my darkest moments, people reached their hands out to bring me back to the light. I offer you my hand. I believe in you.