#TransformationToday

When I was younger, I’d look at myself in the mirror. I would hate the person I saw A girl with bags under her eyes, And a wrinkled face. The only sign of a smile, Were the laugh lines. The distant reminders of happier times. Times before I was broken. I saw the image everyone told me I was. I blamed myself for everything. What my cousin told me. What he and his friends did, Holding me down, Stealing my innocence away from me. With every scream that rang from my lips All they did was laugh and shoot me up. I blamed myself for the withdrawals. I told myself it was because I was a whore. "That’s all you will ever be good at, Being shot up and used Like nothing." I had myself convinced that all the hurtful things, Were true. That I was the one who Started it. That if i would have behaved, He wouldn't have given me the needle. That everyone hated me, It was all my fault my great-grandpa died, That I could have stopped Alex From leaving and getting involved in the gang. That I may as well just die… There were so many times I wished to be taken. So many times I wished he’d give me too much, Or My attempts had succeeded. And now, After all these years, After all the pain, Finally, I can look at myself, And see a beautiful woman. I can see the strength, The wisdom, The passion, The will, The past. I have come to realize, It wasn’t my fault. None of that was my fault, It has not broken me. What it actually did, Is build my strength. I finally can look at myself, And love what I see. I see a woman who can hold her head high, the face of a mom who has overcome so much. Even with tears in her eyes. A mom who is young, but would go to any Extent necessary to ensure Her Child is protected, And taken care of before herself. I reflect on my mistakes, I have come a long way from where I was, Yes, I still have a long way to go. But, I take on the day with my head held high, The will to prove everyone wrong Built in is the motivation to succeed with a better life for my daughter. I have my sleeves rolled up, prepared for the worst. Nobody can stop me now. Graduation is within my grasp, My past is now my strength, I will make everyone eat their words. I cannot be broken, just trained Tougher.