Wow. When I first sent out a text asking people one simple question, I never expected to get the answers I did. My question was so simple, or so I thought. "Can you tell me one thing you're proud of yourself for, or proud of who you are?" That was it. Simple right?

Although this question seems so simple and easy, it killed me to see so many responses that said, "Geez that is such a hard question. I am not really sure of why I am proud of myself or to be who I am."

After barely any responses within the first twenty minutes, answers started pouring in. The first three I got made me cry. It's amazing to see how and why people are proud of themselves.

I think each day we should give ourselves a pat on the back. Let yourself know you are proud of who you are. Tell yourself something positive a few times, versus being so hard and negative all of the time. It's amazing how proud of yourself you really are. You just don't say it enough.

1. "I am proud of working three jobs while maintaining an above 3.0 GPA and keeping my relationships." - Quinn, age 21

2. "Going against my entire family's past and going to college. I was the first person on both sides of my family to go to college instead of the military." - Taylor, age 20

3. "Dealing with my dad's cancer." - Allie, age 17

4. "I went back to school after I was married with three young children. Not only attaining my bachelor's degree, but also my masters." - DeAnna, age 47

5. "I am proud of myself for getting over drug addictions. For being firm in my beliefs, but open to opinions. For going to school even when I feel it's pointless. For having the courage to admit when I am wrong. I am proud of myself for having the relationship with my family that I do. I am proud of myself because I can cook more than eggs and noodles." - Morgan, age 22

6. "I stick to my gut and I don't do something I don't feel comfortable doing and know it's not me. Like getting wasted or settling for a loser." - Kenna, age 21

7. "Having the strength and sensibility to walk away from a situation or person that I wanted because I knew it was not what I needed." - Meagan, age 21

8. "My red hair. Obama told me once he liked my red hair, so that's kinda cool." - Erin, age 20

9. "I have overcome anxiety problems and the need to feel accepted by everyone. I am comfortable with who I am and where I am in my life." - Margo, age 21

10. "I don't let fear get in the way or hold me back from doing things. I face the storm head on with Jesus." - Meghan, age 21

11. "Keeping a 3.5 my whole time at Wofford." - Elizabeth, age 21

12. "I am proud of myself for being able to love/accept all of my flaws!" - Danielle, age 19

13. "I am proud of my empathy towards other people." -Anastasia, age 21

14. "Letting go of my past relationship." - Carey, age 22

15. "The death of my granddaddy has shown me how strong of a person I am and how I can overcome sadness." - Iris, age 18

16. "I am proud of being able to achieve my weight loss goals healthily." - Tanera, age 20

17. "I am proud that this summer I was able to help my dad on our farm. After years of them teaching me things, it's nice for me to apply it and bring a smile to their face." - Will, age 20

18. "I am very proud to be a mom to the two most individual boys, which is incredibly rewarding and so fulfilling. I am also proud of the mentors I have had in my life to help me grow and serve those I work with. Life is full of surprises, disappointments, and yet miracles surround us each day if we take the time to notice them! " - Meaghan, age 35

19. "I am proud of my relationships I have with people. I am caring and empathetic almost to a fault, but I am a person of my word." - Tristan, age 30

20. "I am very happy to be a Christian, doing my best to follow God!" - Brenda

21. "Growing up we didn't have a lot of money. I admired my friends fancy furniture so much and asked my mom for a desk. She told me to save my money. I started babysitting and at age 11, I bought a solid oak desk for $450. I still have this desk in my home today." - Bridget, age 40

22. "I am proud of myself because I am a strong person. I also conquered my fears of elevators." - Shirley, age 73 (and still pushing the lawnmower)

23. "Not causing bodily harm to customers on a daily basis. And that I am a family minded person." - Vicky, age 54

24. "I feel like I have stepped out in faith the past year and taken my relationship with Jesus to a whole new level. A passion I didn't realize I had until I got my toes wet. Then I was hooked." - Tanner, age 19

25. "I am proud of myself because I exempted Jennifer Arnold's Spanish 3 exam junior year of high school." - Zach, age 21

26. "I am proud of who I am because I would do anything to see someone smile. I want to be the person who causes someone to have a great day, or know that they can always run to me if they need anything. I am proud of how I carry myself, my dreams, my compassion, and my fearlessness to always venture out of my comfort zone." - Madison, age 21

27. "I struggle with depression and anxiety, and this summer I finally got help." - Kate, age 21

28. "The day I gave birth naturally to my son was the proudest moment of my life. Reading the Bible between each contraction gave me strength. 19 months later, I did it again as I brought into this world a sweet little girl." - Carol Lee, age 34

29. "I am proud of who I am because I try and live my life in a way that makes me happy and would make my dad proud. He passed away due to a heart attack, but I am the legacy he left behind and I want him to be proud of the girl I am." - Jessica, age 19

30. "I am proud of myself because I seem to make anyone laugh. I also like to think I am pretty handy at fixing things." - Brandon, age 21

31. "I am proud of myself because I am good hearted and kind to others, as well as very helpful. I can honestly say I am proud of who I am." - Jordan, age 21

32. "I am proud of the mom I am because I didn't run over my child's foot with the shopping cart today." - Kathleen, age 33

33. "I am proud to be captain of a college dance team. I didn't make the dance team until I was a senior in high school, even though I tried out each year. I am so proud of where I am today. " - Holly, age 21

34. "I am proud of myself for earning my way to college to advance my education." - Tyreik, age 20

35. "Winning the football state championship my senior year." - Kevin, age 21

36. "I am proud of the fact that I am an honest guy. I try to treat everyone with respect and love. I try to be as selfless as possible." - TJ, age 23

37. "I am proud of myself because I stay positive, and that can get you through absolutely anything." - Jeff, age 38

38. "I am proud of myself for finding what I believe in and my own morals. I don't base them off my parents anymore. Also, finding out what I deserve to be treated like by friends and boys." - Emily, age 21.

39. "I am proud of myself for transferring to Wofford." - Daniel, age 20

40. "Proud that I find the strength in the Lord when I keep losing people that I love. He protects me from the storm." - Kaitlyn, age 20

41. "I am proud of myself because I tasted quinoa today. I didn't like it." - Jackson, age 8

42. "I am proud for starting a club on campus, being an American, and being a woman." - Abby, age 20

43. "I set goals throughout my day that are realistic to complete and I finish them. When I get one done, its something to be proud of. For instance, I got to work today before anyone else, so boom, I feel accomplished." - Thomas, age 22

44. "Proud of wanting to be a heart surgeon, and going out and traveling by myself to see and learn new things." - Taylor, age 21

45. "Proud of myself for learning to let go. Letting go of friendships I held on to, and the past." - Taylor, age 20

46. "I am proud of the fact that I know random historical facts and can name every single president." - Meghan, age 19

46. "I am proud of myself because I did not shoot out a window with my BB gun today." - Payton, age 6

47. "I am proud of myself because I am a stay at home dad." - Jeff, age 53

48. "I am proud of myself for getting my masters for CRNA. Despite everyone being so negative, I got it. Also, I am proud of myself for making the cheerleading squad in high school. Was on cloud 9 after that because I had never wanting something so badly in my life!" - Christy, age 41

49. "I am proud that I am open minded." - Bethany, age 20

50. "I am proud of myself because I finally decided to sober up. Life looks a lot better without two of everything." - John, age 29

51. "I colored inside the lines at a restaurant and a waitress said good job." - Nathan, age 21

52. "I am proud of myself because with the help of God, family, and a strong mindset, I BROKE FREE FROM HEROINE." - Nat, age 24

53. "I am proud of myself for finishing grad school and taking all parts of the CPA exam." - Todd, age 24

54. "Proud that my brother is still my best friend." - Preston, age 22

55. "Going to grad school, teaching full-time, being a mom of a three-year-old, and pregnant. I can honestly tell my children they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. That is why I am proud." - Jessica, age 37

56. "My competitive nature." - Melissa, age 20

57. "I am proud of who I am because I see both the good and the bad in situations. i can ignore what others have said about someone, and show them compassion regardless of their reputation. I see others for their character, not their external qualities." - Addison, age 20

58. "I am proud of myself for earning a football scholarship. I put in a lot of work for it, and it finally happened." - Jerry, age 22

59. "Coming from a tiny school and being able to earn a collegiate cheerleading scholarships is one of the reasons I am so proud of myself. Hard work always pays off in the end." - Ariel, age 21

60. "I have helped people get closer to God." - Levi, age 20

61. "I am proud of myself because it has been my dream since 4 years old to play collegiate soccer, and to finally be recruited and play has been an awesome journey." - Sarah, age 21

62. "I am proud of helping to raise a beautiful daughter (inside and out)." - Sherri, age 50

63. "I am proud of myself for leaving Erskine. Choosing to stop playing basketball was so tough, as well as leaving my teammates. I am really proud of myself for accomplishing something that was uncomfortable, and for handling it on my own without my parents involved." - Jessica, age 22

64. "I am proud that I have learned to be so much happier by listening to God's opinion rather than peers. Trusting Him has brought me the most joy I've ever known, and I am proud of where I am, but I know I've got a lot to grow." - Maggie, age 19

65. "I am proud of myself because i resisted temptation when it was what would have been the easy way out of a hard situation." - Jakob, age 21

66. "I'm proud that I have accomplished things that people said I would never be able to accomplish. I am proud that I had the nerve to step up and break away from the goals of others and pursue my own goals and dreams." - Davis, age 21

67. "I am proud because I have ambition, live a continuously improving lifestyle, and have given myself the chance to experience true happiness. I am especially proud of how I have matured spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, and how well I manage time." - Hunter, age 22

68. "I make people laugh. Mostly myself, but that counts, right?" - Pam, age 26

69. "I am proud of myself for following God's plan for me to become a nurse even though it's hard, tiring, and some days I just want to quit. Its all worth it when someone says thank you for helping them and making a difference in their lives!" - Nicole, age 23

70. "I am extremely proud of myself because I have overcame my anxiety. I use it to help teach other people. I am proud of my experiences and how they can help others going through similar issues. " - Melina, age 21

71. "I am proud of myself because I am completing my fifth year as a collegiate football player." - Brian, age 22

72. "I am proud of myself because of who I am. Nobody can tell me to not be proud of myself and all that I've accomplished." - Terry, age 31

It is awesome, yet so sad, to see how many people have never thought of why they are proud of who they are. One text I will never forget stated "I am actually really glad you just asked me that. People should ask themselves that more often."

Be proud of who you are. No matter what, you're amazing.