Dear Those Who Told Me I Couldn’t,

Here I am! Is this where you thought I would be? I’ve passed barriers, climbed mountains and even took a few leaps here and there. Does this come as a shock to you? It came as a little shock to me too -- but I’m not here to talk about myself, I’m here to thank you.

I wanted to thank you for all the times that you pointed out my failures, my mistakes, my falls. Thank you for pushing me to the point where I wasn’t sure what my purpose was -- because if it wasn’t for you, I never would have stood up and ran. I would never have driven myself to do more than I ever thought I was capable of.

How did you help me, you ask?

Well, you helped me by constantly tugging at me to slow down, just so you could catch up. You helped me by putting motivation into my mind and power into my stride.

Of course it hurt, at first, it was meant to hurt -- but I wasn’t born to quit.

For every “can’t”, “never”, “no” or laugh in my face you gave me, I turned them into “can”, “always”, “yes” and laugh into the open air. I turned all of the pain you placed in me, into thoughts of success. I allowed myself to compete.

Compete against who?

Against you. I competed to prove you wrong, to show you I was more than just your hurtful words -- that I was capable of so much more. I realized that I didn’t need your approval. I didn’t need your ‘helping hand’ in my life. I realized that I am more than enough for myself.

For so long I tried to figure out what was wrong with me. I changed my ways, I gave more, I worked harder, but for some reason, I could never please you. Then, it dawned on me. There was nothing wrong with me. The problem was with your inability to accept.

You were scared. You were scared that somebody would outshine you, when in fact all you did was dim yourself down. You focused so hard on shutting out my light, that you didn’t even realize you were losing yours.

Kinda ironic isn’t it?

Ironic that you told me I’d never be wanted, yet I’ve found love.

Ironic that you told me I wasn’t smart enough, yet I’ve escaped debt.

Ironic that you told me I would never accomplish anything, yet I’m making people proud.