Everyone gets asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up," or "Where do you see yourself in five years?" I've never been able to answer those questions. All I've ever known for sure is that I want to help people. Cliche? Maybe. True? Absolutely. Because when I think about what sets my soul on fire, it's knowing that I've eased someone's burden or helped them see a new perspective, or ignited even a tiny glimmer of hope. I do that by sharing my story.
That's why I speak.
My primary message is that no matter what you've been through, you have to decide you will use it to grow you. Only you can make the future better by taking responsibility. It isn't fair, and it most certainly isn't easy. But YOU make the choice. These are high expectations, but I also believe in high love. I believe people need space to experience and deal with their problems. We can't pretend people don't have pain. We have to give credibility to it. But we can't allow it to become an excuse. I believe it's one of the most hopeful messages I could share: no matter what has happened to you or around you, you get to choose how you experience it in you.
Will you cave to the negativity, or will you leverage what was meant to hurt you to propel you to your greatest purpose? I believe that's how we change the world. People who have been bruised and scarred become willing to show up, tell the truth about who they are, where they've been, and how they were able to overcome. Lights shining in the dark places. For I believe where there is light, there is no darkness at all.
