Favorite Quotes that help me with writing and in life:

"Nurture your minds with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes." Benjamin Disraeli

“It always seems impossible until it's done.” Nelson Mandela

Personal Statement:

I'm not always the happiest person. I deal with big and small crosses as we all do. We all need to remember that everyone has a story. While I am not always happy, I am (pretty much) always joyful. Joy is not synonymous with happiness. Happiness is a feeling, Joy is a choice. Happiness comes from earthly things, and we all know how quickly earthly circumstances can change. Joy comes from the gifts you are given, and in sharing them with others. Joy breeds contentment, and that is why I smile through almost every situation. I also believe love is not a feeling, but a choice. We choose to love every day, and that unconditional love one finds so easily in their nuclear family needs to be recreated in this conditional world in the communities we find ourselves. Love translates into respect and protection for the dignity of another person. It can also be tough love. As a mom and a teacher, I will call it like I see it. We all need to strive to be better than we were the day before, me especially. If I call someone out with tough love...it is not judgement, but a challenge. Tomorrow will dawn with me loving once again - hopeful, and joyful. Life's greatest challenge is to not let others steal your joy. It's hard, and I struggle with it because I am overly sensitive; but it is the most worthy battle in which to claim victory. This is how one writes their life's story. Every day is a fresh new page to write on.