Do you remember when we were young and the scariest thing was change? You would see your family or friends that were older become someone totally different and you thought, I am never going to change!

Then we start to grow up and realize some change is good. Still it is scary, but we look around and see we have changed. At first you are like, "What? No way! This is who I am and I am going to stay to stay this way forever."

The funny thing is, changing is great. Changing means growing. There is no way we can stay the child version of ourselves. It is like our own personal evolution. We grow into better stronger people.

Honestly, where would I be right now if I was still that little girl that let people push me around? That girl who let people tell her what was right and what was wrong. I would not be any one. What I would be is a carcass for someone else's life, doing what ever made any ones else happy but myself.

Now I am an independent woman who speaks my mind when things are not right. By no means am I telling you that you need to be just like me. Absolutely not. But what I am saying is that change is nice. You learn who you really are and find yourself.

So when someone says that you have changed, say thank you. You do not want to be the same person you were ten years ago. Where is the growth in that? How have you matured any if you are the same?

I do not mean that you have to drastically change into someone you do not recognize. The change I am talking about is becoming the better you, the stronger you.

The reason we do not stay the same is because we endure so much in life. We learn new and exciting things. We go through heartbreak and trauma. We meet new people that broaden our our thoughts to how things should be.

So much changes throughout your life because every day is different. The only way you do not change is if you are closed-minded, and that is not a good thing. Being open to new possibilities are great. There is so much to see and experience.

So yes, you will change. There is nothing to stop that, but it's OK. Changing is beautiful! That classic story of, “you have changed” makes it seem like a bad thing. I ask how can it be a bad thing? A lot of good can come from change.

Sure there are times when it is horrible. When you go through a break-up or the death of someone close to you. They can be absolutely horrible. But you realize you are still here, that you made it and have become stronger because of it. Sure, you can be broken still, but you are still living. That strength is courageous.