We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the
changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
-Maya Angelou
I remember listening to stories from my parents about how they listened to old radio programs that told a story like War of the Worlds and how people thought that aliens had invaded the world. Why? Because the program sounded so real and no one understood it was a story. How they heard Elvis for the first time on the radio. Or listened to the news on the radio. Back then a lot of homes only had a radio… TV’s weren’t popular yet.
Now we’re all entitled and spoiled by computers and televisions that the art of old radio programs being read over the air is a lost art. It’s okay though. Things evolve and life changes. Who you are now is not who you were 10 years ago… 20 years ago… 30 years ago…
For me, who I am today is not who I was five years ago. Five years ago, I was just getting out of a toxic and abusive relationship. I was told that I wasn’t worth anything. I was so isolated that I didn’t believe that I deserved any kind of love or had any friends.
Thirteen years ago, I heard the words, “You have cancer.” I remember being alone when I heard the words and scared when I went in for my surgeries. I remember my mom and brother being there with me in the hospital. I remember my mom taking care of my scars after and my brother teasing me with good food while I couldn’t eat anything that had Iodine in it before my radiation therapy.
Twenty years ago, I was a fresh rape victim. I believed that I had put myself in that situation and that I had asked to be raped. That instead of making a mistake and trusting the wrong man, I was stupid and asked for it. I was wrong. I didn’t ask for it and I definitely didn’t deserve it.
Thirty years ago, I was a shy 14 year old girl who had no friends because we traveled too much. I was a military brat whose father retired but we never stopped traveling. Seeking something I don’t understand even now. An upside to all of that travel is I have been to nearly every state in the union… either lived in it or been through it. I’ve seen so many different cultures in our very own nation.
Growing up a military brat gave me a perspective on the world that is vastly different from someone who lived in one place their whole life. I have seen many different cultures from the South to the North to the South West… I’ve lived in places like Alaska and Hawaii… California and Florida. I grew up mostly in Kentucky after my dad finally stopped moving us around so much… but still I have a lot of memories from my childhood of traveling and seeing new places.
And through it all, I am who I am today. I grew up because that is what people do. You too have grown even if you don’t think you have. You evolve over the years into who you are today and your past experiences make you who you are now. And that doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but from things I’m reading online at the moment, people are being punished for stuff they did or said 20 to 30 years ago… Tell me, are you the same person today as you were then? Did you evolve? Did you grow up? Did you change your mind? Then why is it so hard to believe that other people do the same?
In the end we are the same…if you prick me, I will bleed. If you hit me, I will bruise. If you cry, I do at times too. You have gone through a hard time, well I’ve been through my own hard times. Through it all, I came out stronger. My past doesn’t define who I am today, but it did help form who I am today. My rape is not my life. My rape did not define who I am. My cancer was a part of me, but it too did not define who I am. But everything I have been through in my past, made me a stronger woman today.
I am me. I am worthy. I stand my ground, speak my mind (when I feel comfortable doing so) and I don’t judge others. I don’t stand here in judgment of other people for their past choices because I have made some pretty poor choices in my own past and I fully believe in not throwing stones at glass houses. Anyway, Adventurites, I’m going to close this out here and leave you with this: Be you, Be strong, Be safe and above all, Love LIFE! Laters! ~ LA
Credits
DaD . “Climbing Ivy Spring Green” mod.01 m/c
dust bunny . hanging plants . ivy planter
dust bunny . hanging plants . cheese plant
dust bunny . hanging plants . double planter
dust bunny . hanging plants . spider planter
Olivet Romantic Pergola Set Complete Adult – Girls Heaven Event June 2020
Hanging Ivy Planter
Hanging Criss Cross Lantern
Olivet Hanging Chair ADULT
Olivet Mint Rug
Olivet Floral Rug
Chrysanthemum Coastal Stone Planters
Pink Chrysanthemum Coastal Stone Planter
Yellow Chrysanthemum Coastal Stone Planter
Golden Chrysanthemum Coastal Stone Planter
Old Beach Wood Console Table Set
Old Beach Wood TallBoy
Old Beach Wood Sidetable
Old Beach Wood Console
Hanakapiai Coastal Planters
Rose Tropical Stone Planter
Tan Tropical Stone Planter
JIAN Kitten Collection :: Static (Alert)
JIAN Love Pugs 6. Duckling Cuddles
JIAN Kitten Collection :: Static (Snuggle Pile)
JIAN Kitten Collection :: Static (Stretch)
LB_LipstickPalm.v2{Animated} – Summerfest Event
Nutmeg&RK Poses. Old Stool w/Cloth DecorGroup Gift
.peaches. Gnomandy Ghomes – SL17 Birthday Gift!
Trompe Loeil – Ninah Cottage {A}
West Village Patina Urn – Whitewashed, Capped
Bellevie Light String – no poles
Summertime Radio Decor
Catalina Lounger (w/pillow)
Bellevie Table
Palisades BBQ Condiments
Palisades BBQ Grill
Pothos Plant (trailing)
House Plant – Eucalyptus (stand)
Snake Plant
House Plant – Agave (stand)
Swiss Cheese Plant
Snake Plant
Swiss Cheese Plant
~Flowers Pot Gift SL17B .:Tm:.Creation
Williamsburg Bedroom – Bird Cage with Blue Votives
