I was watching America’s Got Talent and there were a couple of Father-Daughter acts and they both brought me straight to tears. I envy the closeness and the support they all had for each other. I come from a family where no one was to succeed. Dream all you want, your dreams are silly and they will never come true. I even witnessed my own mother say to my children how their dreams were stupid and they would never come true. I was in shock and couldn’t believe my ears, even though I knew how she was and that she had been the same way with me through all my years growing up. It was still ever so shocking to hear her say these words to my own children. I would have hoped that she would want more for them.

Growing up I often heard my mother and my aunts always talking negative about everyone. Rarely did they ever speak positively about anyone or any thing. Remarks would be made to myself and my cousins about failure and not living up to our hopes and dreams and that’s all they would ever be.. just hopes and dreams. My mother would also say directly to me how jealous she was over mine and my father’s connection. She hated the attention he would give me and she made it well known quite often. While my father was really only concerned with his own needs… sure he would play games with me when he was around but that was it…. no real talks .. no real conversations. He was good at the fun stuff but that’s where it all ended. No real guidance or support.  So, yes, I am very envious of those kids with their attentive, caring and thoughtful parents.. parents that inspire and support their children’s dreams.

At the end of the day though I can say without doubt that because of how I was raised…. I am who I am today. Determined to prove the naysayers wrong.

Let me explain:

I may not be the best painter
I may not be the best  writer
I may not be the best stained glass artist
I may not be the best photographer
I may not be the best at anything I do ….

BUT…….

I am THE BEST at not giving up
I am THE BEST at dreaming
I am THE BEST at hoping
I am THE BEST at trying again and again
I am THE BEST at loving
I am THE BEST at trying new things
I am THE BEST at overcoming my own fears
I am THE BEST at BEING ME!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker