lessons learned .

You know, my mom always told me not to be a 'typical teenager' . She said , "Please dont grow up and be like those white kids on TV who yell 'i hate you' and run to their room." lol . She told me not to trust little boys until they earned that right . She told me she loved me so much, that i began to love myself . She taught me that tears do not compromise a person's strength and to use your circumstances to enlighten and inspire people .

She taught me what to say when people made fun of my name as a little girl lol . She taught me (without knowing it) that you can't trust everyone all the time, but you have to be strong enough to find out who's worthy . She showed me that a small knit group of GOOD friends is better than a plethora of fake ones . She taught me to be 'special' and embrace it . So many people want to blend into the background of everyone else, and im so grateful to be myself . My mom showed me the importance of a relationship with God . I believe God gave my mom the courage to pray in the face of adversity and she passed it down to me.

I think one of the most important things my mother ever taught me was to know my own worth . To know what i deserve and what i dont . I remember when i was in elementary school and i told someone that i was happy with the way i looked & they made fun of me . i came home and cried to my mom, "someone called me stuck up" . She laughed, and ever since then . . . i laughed too . I laugh at anybody who thinks that they can tell ME what i deserve , who i am, or what i am capable of . She taught me these things . . .

During the holidays, we need to remember our family . The ones with us, the ones we miss, and the ones that we need to be thankful for . As the 2009 year ends, its important to hold onto what you have learned previously so you do not digress . It's also important to acknowledge the people who taught you .