Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

One of the hardest things in life is to remember that there is always a ray of sunshine at the end of the tunnel.  

The past few months, I have had to remind myself of this a lot.  For the longest time, it just felt like everything was going wrong, one person died after another..or someone was diagnosed with an illness..and it just felt like nothing was going right.  

I thought going back to school would help me to forget these things.  But the truth is that I will never forget what these past few months have been like.  

Heading back to school has not been easy breezy.  There are times at school where I’m smiling and laughing because I am surrounded by my wonderful friends and teachers who care about me.  But there are other times when I just can’t help but think of everything that has changed over the past few months.  I wonder why these things happen to so many people that I know…and the truth is that I will probably never know the answer.  

I am lucky to have so many people in my life who care about me and support me in my endeavors.  This has been my sunshine, or ray of light, throughout a dark time that I must remind myself of.  

Each day brings many emotions that take me in different directions.  Some days I wake up and want to go share my story with others..and some days I just want to stay in bed all day with a bowl of ice cream and a sad movie so that I have a ‘reason’ to cry. 

Remember to tell your family, friends, and anyone else who matters to you that they are important to you. Always tell them that you love them, even on the toughest days.  Share with them how they have brought sunshine to your life.  

Lastly, remember to smile.  A smile, even from a stranger, can change someone’s day. Smiling is the greatest way to give someone a ray of sunshine. 

Peace, love, and hugs to all of my family, friends, teachers, and mentors.  

My Heroes

     While the big man upstairs will always be my one, true hero, I believe that we are allowed to have people here on earth who we consider to be our hero(s).  For me, those people here on earth that I consider to be my heroes are my mom and dad.  My parents are two of the most loving, caring, humble, and hard-working people that I have ever met.

     My parents care about their two daughters beyond what my sister and I could ask for. They  always support us and show us love, even on the days when we make poor decisions. I know some may say that that is their duty as parents...but I would argue that my parents go above and beyond how most parents care for their children. My parents stay up late waiting for us, just to make sure that we are home safely. When I am away at school, my dad is always alerting me of weather threats that are in my area. My mom is the one I call when I don't feel so good. She is also the one I call when I don't know how to iron a shirt or get a stain out of a piece of clothing.

     My parents show my sister and I what it means to give back to our community. Both of my parents are very involved in our community. My parents not only give monetary donations to local organizations, but they also volunteer and share their time and talents. Both of my parents belong to and/or support local, national, and international organizations such as Kiwanis International and Epsilon Sigma Alpha International. My parents have passed the value of giving back to my sister and I, as we were both active in Key Club during high school and are both members of ESA.

     My mom and dad have taught me what it means to be devoted to your job.  They both go beyond what is asked or necessary to make sure that their duties are complete. My parents show(ed) commitment to their jobs.  My dad worked as a police officer for thirty-five years, and my mom has worked in the lab at the hospital for over forty years.  To me, those numbers reflect true commitment and dedication not only to their employers, but also to the community.  Those numbers reflect their commitment and dedication to providing for their family, to make sure my sister and I had the best care possible.

     While there is so much more I could share about both of my parents, I just want to say a special thank you to them for everything that they have done and continue to do day in and day out.  My parents always talk about how proud they are of my sister and I, and I feel they deserve recognition for raising us to be the people we are today.

     My parents have taught me to give back to the community, to follow my dreams, to put my trust in God, to be committed to my endeavors, to be humble, and to be the best person that I can be. Thank you mom and dad for everything that you have done.  I will always be in debt to you for the love and compassion that you have shown me. Each day you continue to inspire me to be the best that I can be. I truly love you both, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.