To the Woman that Inspired Me

To inspire is to ignite the smoldering fire within, creating movement in the direction of desire. Becoming free in a sea of equal opportunity, filled with the excitement and the life of something that once was dormant.

I remember my first experience of being inspired. As a 15-year-old girl working her first job at the local grocery store, this woman walked through my till and made me stop dead in my tracks, I was in awe. Her presence and her beauty, she walked through with such confidence and power. How she carried herself and the way she spoke. She was a classy, distinguished woman who wore a beautiful munroe piercing that sparkled of my future. I had never seen one of those before especially on an older woman, I could tell that she was a rule breaker and did not stand for anything less than what she deserved. It excited me and awoke the strong beautiful woman that I am today. 2 years later I got a Munroe piercing of my own and 20 years later every morning I am reminded of the beauty and strength that I carry.

As much as this woman impacted me this story is not about her, but about a woman who taught me the power of strength on a much deeper level. Who is this woman?

She is fierce and strong, wise and a warrior. She has rose from each battle with grace, and dignity. There is an unexplained beauty that lies in the pain of her eyes and the curl of her smile, an unsung hero withstanding the pressures of her journey. She is proud and confident to share the story of each struggle as she has conquered the repression of self and set it free.

She wasn’t always like this, she has been bruised and broken on levels of the heart, of the mind and the soul, lost with purpose, self-sabotaging along the way. The cruelty of the world making dreams impossible, continuously giving her power away to the trying times of her life. Blinded to her own value she stumbled across her own story recognizing that her failures were only steps to her success, as new chapters blossomed the story changed to a story of victory, a celebration of strength, and a motivation to make a change. She overcame fear, the fear of herself and the insecurities that held her back. Her continued fight of the difficult struggle being rewarded by using her power to protect those that could not protect themselves. She decided on a journey into a relationship with self, physical growth and soul development. She stopped wallowing in self-pity and started investing in herself. She took the leap in to her future with the uncertainty that she would be able to escape her troubled circumstances.

To the woman who inspired me. The one that encouraged me to put one-foot forward, the one that taught me that it was based on perspective. Understanding that breakdowns are the prime opportunity to discover untapped potential. To the woman who inspired me, that was not afraid to go into battle, the one that held her head up and took the first step. Wounded and scared still rising to the top of her full being. Taking the time to understand herself and the changes of a mindset that were needed to save her life, understanding that there is beauty in each step.

To the woman who is the lighthouse to the best version of myself. It is this woman who encouraged me to walk into the light that was beaming from the inside. It was this woman who encouraged me to take the risk, in this woman I saw my own strength. I am a stronger person because of this woman, because she shared her strength with me and made me accountable for mine. She did not let me hide because hiding would be to easy and an insult to all that she had overcome. She took time in honoring my steps while I honored her. She encouraged the existence of me. To the woman that taught me that rock bottom is only a breakthrough in disguise.

The journey that you have taken and the story that you have shared, as your success continues as a selfishness act of spreading confidence for others to move forward. I continue in your foot steps, as it is the power of your words and the strength in you stance and it is in your grace that vulnerability is far from a weakness. With this newfound inspiration, I am a stronger person because of you. Because you have chosen to live a life on your own terms, I choose the same.

Thank you for being you and sharing all you have with me.