I have always had the self view that I am fiercely independent and that I would never let anyone dull the fire of who I was and who I wanted to be. I told myself that no one would ever make me look down on my own accomplishments or feel bad for working hard and moving up in life. And for a long time that self view was wrong. I couldn't admit that to myself in that moment, and you can guarantee I wasn't going to listen to anyone else, but I let myself become self conscious. I felt guilty for how my hard work was paying off. I began to allow myself to be manipulated and torn down and convinced my goals and aspirations were not as important or valued as someone else's. If you are ever in a situation where someone wants you to give up your dreams in order for them to be happy and feel better about themselves, its time to cut the strings you may not have realized were there until that moment.

Although I didn't realize it, so many life lessons are learned when we aren't aware that we are merely dolls on strings attached to the wooden rods in the hands of our puppeteer. While we may not realize it then, the building up of those lessons are what eventually give us the courage to stand up on our own and cut the strings that have held us from the ground for so long, living in a reality so far from what is real. When those ties are gone, our feet can land on the ground once more and our choices become our own. All those life lessons suddenly make sense. In my time as a puppet, I learned more about myself, my capabilities, and took control over my realities.

Lesson one, be careful that your kindness isn't allowing others to take advantage of you. I completely understand and empathize with those that feel they need to sacrifice everything in order to allow the ones they love to be everything they want. But let me warn you, it's so easy to give, and give, and give, and eventually your obedience and passiveness are no longer valued, but used. It's hard. It's hard to come to the conclusion that you no longer think for your best interest and it's harder stand up for yourself. But as hard as it may seem, you are worth it. You deserve more than to be someones stairway. You deserve to achieve your goals as much as the next person.

Lesson two, believe in your capabilities, despite what you're told. Despite the fact that we are growing up in a society that burns "you can do anything" into the very essence of our existence, somehow when we get to the point in our lives where we need to be confident, we completely forget how much we have to offer the world. Right around the time you're told that you aren't enough, whether it references that someone feels that you aren't "smart enough, thin enough, fun enough, talented enough," the list could go on for pages, we forget that we are more than anyone's opinion of who we are.

Lesson three, ultimately you are in charge of our future. Life has always been and will always be a massive roller coaster. But for all the unpredictability,you choose your future. Not anyone else. It will ALWAYS be up to you to know what is best for who you are. And I believe in your ability to reach any goal or dream you can ever think of. If no one else believes in you, know that for what it is worth, I do.

When strings are no longer holding you back from your future, it will truly amaze you at what you can do. You weren't created to be any one's puppet. You were created to be a rock star. Go get 'em, tiger.