Sometimes, life is going to knock you straight down onto your ass. You are going to find out what you're made of whether you're ready to or not. That's life, unfortunately. People you love may betray you, learn to forgive. Other's may life through you, make it worth it. Allowing the situations in your life to destroy you is not an option.

We all want to let the bad situations in our lives define us. It's our excuse for why we act certain ways and no one can take that away. However, do these excuses make you better? If they don't, stop using them.

My new favorite slogan for my life is get better, not bitter. I have been done wrong time after time again. Sometimes it's by those who are near and dear to my heart and other times, it's by those who don't even know me but I allowed them to get under my skin. My initial response to these people is never wanting to be mean, angry, heartless, I simply don't have it in me. I've always believed that I should be the good I want to see in the world, it all has to start somewhere.

I've watched what it's like to see someone respond negatively, it got them absolutely no where. Being nice might not get me anywhere either, but at least this way I never have to feel regret for things I've done or said. I have been brought to my absolute lowest, most angry and hurt stage of life and the only words I could mumble out were "you're a coward." Which, in the given case may have been true yet I still regret those words to this day.

I have always believed in lifting others up, making them feel like they have a purpose. After all, we're all placed on this earth for a reason. So why do we feel that being mean, negative and hurtful is the correct way to approach a situation? By degrading someone, you are not making the problem at hand any better. Do you really want to give someone the ability to say, "well they were just a mean, nasty person"? I never want those words to be associated with my name because I know that is not the kind of person I am. You could turn my world upside down and I will still look at you with a smile on my face and ask you how you're doing, not because I'm petty, but because I actually still care.

Mistakes should not define one's character. Mistakes need to be made in order to learn. Mistakes do not make you a bad person. If you make a mistake always remember a couple things. First, apologies can go a long way. They may not be able to fix the situation, but at least you're owning up to your wrongdoings. Secondly, don't let this mistake define you. Don't use it as an excuse. Don't let it follow you, I promise it will blow over. Third, remember actions speak louder than words. You can mean well by what you say but unless an action follows it, you're not making any progress.

Life is what you make it my friends, live everyday to its fullest potential. Smile, strive, shine. Your opportunities are endless.