In this powerful and personal reflection, the author shares her journey from avoiding confrontation to embracing her voice and standing up for herself. Once timid and afraid of upsetting others, she now recognizes the importance of speaking her truth—even if it makes others uncomfortable. A week filled with difficult but necessary conversations became a turning point, reinforcing her growth and courage. Inspired by the characters she writes and the empowering words she once penned—“Find your voice, know your worth, and pursue your purpose”—she encourages readers to do the same. The post ends with a challenge: don’t hold back—say what needs to be said.

“I’m a superhero.”
Sounds bold, right? But hear me out—my power isn’t flying or invisibility. It’s something far more rare: I truly see people.

After losing vision in one eye as a child, I spent years feeling invisible. What I didn’t realize was that my difference gave me a gift—the ability to connect deeply, to make others feel seen, valued, and understood.

This isn’t just empathy. It’s my superpower. And it’s changed lives—including my own.

            I titled my blog "The Bright Side" because I've always believed there is positivity, something good in every moment. Our most significant challenges turn into our greatest moments of strength. These hard times become the turning points in our lives. May 2025 hit the nail on the head with this theory. I could not think of a better representation or symbol for "The Bright Side" than this past month.

Here are some quick facts you probably didn't know about me:

1. I didn't learn how to read until 2nd grade

2. I didn't like reading until 6th grade

3. I almost failed Academic Writing 1 in college

4. I took a grammar class at 28 to hopefully gain basic grammar skills

5. I hate reading out loud

Despite all of these facts, I am a published author of three poetry books and one novel. I am releasing another novel in June 2025.

            I hate driving and, more importantly, driving in unfamiliar territory. You won’t hear me say, "Let's get in the car and see where the road takes us." However, I've been getting in the car and exploring so many new places due to promoting the book. When I decided to commit to putting my books and myself out there, I signed up for a bunch of craft fairs. That means I have to drive wherever they are, wherever they are, into a completely unfamiliar place and give it my all.

Anyone who knows me knows I do not give up. Every problem has a solution, and every question has an answer. That is not an obstacle that I cannot get through. I’ve had my fair share of challenges and roadblocks, but I have kept moving forward through it all. It’s my motto my whole life. Whenever I get stuck in a rut, I tell myself I’ve been through worse and made it through. I want to say I’m filled with so much positivity that there’s no way I can quit. But in reality, it’s more than fear of failure that fuels me. There’s no way I’m saying I can’t do it, and I quit. No, I fight and keep fighting until the mission is complete. This mentality sometimes has its setbacks. But that’s not what this post is about.