Never Say You're Sorry

I will not apologize for being confident. I wasn't always. But, once I stopped
 worrying about being liked and worried more about being me - life changed.
  I won't apologize for discovering my inner power.   
I won't apologize for learning, for growing or for finding my true calling in life.
 I will never apologize for flaming the spark within until it roared. 
~J.V. Manning

I will never apologize for being me. I will never apologize for being strong, smart or motivated. I will never apologize for living in accordance with the morals, ethics and standards that I have for myself. I will never apologize for attaining goals I have set. I will never apologize for not making the same mistakes as others. I sure as hell will never apologize for having my life together and for being happy.

I won't apologize because I don't have to.

I have made mistakes. I have had many-many missteps and direction changes. I have had broken hearts and shattered dreams. I have had my life reduced to rubble more times than I can count and yet somehow - always found a way to piece it back together.

I will not apologize for that either. 

I will not apologize for my dreams or my dedication to making them come true. I will not apologize for my inner fire or my presence. I will not apologize for the material things I have acquired - I have worked hard for everything I have and am not ashamed of it.  I will not apologize for being dedicated and will not apologize for any successes this brings forth. I will not apologize for my personal failures - I will however own every single one of them and find ways to do better.

I will not apologize for my decisions - if they were wrong I will admit it and move on. I will not apologize for keeping my stride when times are tough and will not apologize if I stumble either. I won't apologize for being outspoken. I won't apologize for standing up for something I think is right. I won't apologize for changing my mind when presented with new evidence or ideas. I will not apologize for having an open mind. I will not apologize for taking every person who walks into my life as they are.

I will not dull who I am because someone has a problem with it. I will not allow my actions to be dictated by another. I will offer no explanations, excuses or justifications to anyone that judges me and my life. Especially if they know nothing about me. 

If I want to live my life out loud - then that is exactly what I am going to do.
Why?
Because I can.
Because I want to - have to -deserve to. 

I will not apologize for being confident. I wasn't always. But, once I stopped worrying about being liked and worried more about being me - my life changed.  I won't apologize for discovering my inner power. I won't apologize for learning, for growing or for finding my true calling in life. I will never apologize for flaming the spark within until it roared.

All of these things I refuse to apologize for... You shouldn't either.

If you allow the opinions and proclamations of others to determine your worth - you are doing nothing more than selling yourself out. If you listen to the naysayers, the disbelievers, the jealous ones and not to yourself - how will you ever reach your dreams? How will you fan your inner flame to a mighty roar if you let others continually blow it out? Stop apologizing for being you.

Never say you’re sorry when you have done nothing more than honor your authentic self.

However, living this way does in fact come with a price tag.  The more you shine, the more your inner flame roars - the harder some try to blow it out. Instead of owning their personal responsibility and focusing on ways to better themselves - they instead focus on ways to make themselves appear better by trying to make you look bad. Forget them.  In school, at the office, within your family and friends or simply someone unhappy and miserable in their own lives - when someone is threatened by your life, by your successes, achievements, happiness and contentment - this is their problem - not yours. NOT YOURS. Stop letting this poison into your life and get back to being all you want to be, dream to be and will be.

Forget the naysayers.

I think the turtles have it figured out. Soft on the inside, hard shell on the outside and willing to stick their necks out to get anywhere they want to go.  So dream big. Live-out-loud. Never apologize for your triumphs or your failures. Never listen to those whose own unhappiness forces them to lash out at you. Forget their words. Forget their accusations.  Forget the need to prove yourself to them. They will never listen because in truth – it is not you they are mad at. They are mad at themselves for never following through on their own dreams. For not living authentically. For not having the strength to take that same hard look within that you did. They will forever hate your shine – That’s ok. Let them. When you live an authentic, honest and brilliant life – you will light your own way and the ways of everyone who believes in you.

 Never – Ever – Ever - Dull your shine.

Fan those inner flames and ROAR!!!!