Brave Heart, Brave Soul. She who is brave is free.

"Every test in our lives makes us bitter or better, every problem comes to break or make us. The choice is ours whether we become victim or victor." ~ Unknown This month marks my 11th year recognizing BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. To be honest the color pink is not really my thing these days. I'm more than a number and far more than any color can define me. I'm a Survivor, and as such I understand the importance and necessity of honoring and recognizing all those who have fought and won this battle as much as remembering the lives of those taken far too soon. And so today I want to share some personal thoughts with you. Truthfully, I'm in a much better place than I was a decade ago. I've learned to accept my scars and to live free from fear. But this hasn't been an easy task, let me tell you. So today, why don't you come with me, back a ways. I think maybe it's time my story is told fully, not as a victim but as a woman who's com...

"I have not changed; I am still the same girl I was fifty years ago and the same young woman I was in the seventies. I still lust for life, I am still ferociously independent, I still crave justice, and I fall madly in love easily." ~  Isabel Allende I am still the same girl I was all those years ago, opening gifts on Christmas morning, climbing up on my parents bed, dancing around in a pink tutu, receiving my college degree or walking down the aisle to marry the love of my life. Sure I may have changed outwardly. I've grown into my personality, into my skin and grown a few inches taller along the way but underneath I am absolutely the same girl I have always been..spunky, sassy and  free spirited. Life has moved me, shaken me and shaped me, but it has never broken me. I may have struggled with body image but I made up for that in so many other ways from taking the stage and belting out a tune, ballet, dance, gymnastics, theater, piano, voice, choir, writing, mo...

I have a question for you. How’s life going right now? Is it working out for you? Are you happy with it? Better yet are you in love with your life?  Or are you possibly stumbling down the yellow brick road or maybe chasing the rainbows end? Most of life’s circumstances we don’t see coming that’s for sure. Those sweet and sour moments just kinda show up. We tend to forget our attitude changes everything. If we keep looking at life through a second rate, inadequate or deficient set of spectacles that’s exactly what we get, shabby and inept. But by choosing a different set of glasses (not the rose colored kind either) our perspective changes. See “Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out just take another shot.” Now I can’t say I have been in love with every moment of my life. Sadness, pain and difficulties have certainly had their two cents and then some. I have absolutely h...