A Simple Smile

Dear younger me, 

You were a version of myself that I would have never hoped to meet.

Full of negativity, impatience, and a bad temper. 

You hit your boyfriend when he said "no" to buying you food. 

You yelled at your mentally challenged brother when he couldn't behave. 

You slammed the door in your mother's face when she asked you a simple favor. 

How were you even able to make friends? 

The only thing you did right was get on your knees and pray to God for a change of heart. 

You prayed for a mental reconstruction, a change of spirit, a sound mind, and more patience.

You prayed for those that you love and those you have hurt. 

You asked God for forgiveness and for a different path. A shift in perspecive. 

Not only did you pray for such a change, but you took action as well. 

You worked on yourself. You watched your mouth. You held yourself back at times when you were going to physically harm someone. 

And look at you now. Beautiful personality, strong and encouraging attitude. 

Most of all, look at your beautiful smile. The smile that brought back the mother-daughter connection, the brother-sister bond, the young boyfriend-girlfriend love. 

A simple smile made all the difference.