I hear it all the time: “You’re so strong.” I am? Am I really? Or do I just put on a good face? I’ve been through some pretty tough stuff in my life, sure. But no more than anyone else. I would never say ‘I’ve had it bad’. And when things do get ‘bad’ all I know to do is to keep moving forward. If there’s one thing in life that I’ve learned: time doesn’t stop for anyone. Life goes on. So I keep moving forward.

I always thought I got my strength from my mom. She’s so tough and has always been able to handle anything life’s thrown at her. One weekend I came home from college and I told my mom about this song I’d heard and how I wanted to walk down the aisle to it at my wedding. We listened to it in my bedroom and when the song finished playing she said, “You know, you’ve always been my strength.” Even in my mom’s darkest moments, when she thought she couldn’t carry on anymore, I gave her strength.

It’s something I’ve been struggling with lately: how strong I am. Because I see it. AND IT ABSOLUTELY BAFFLES ME. Because I don’t know where it comes from. It just is. I just am. It’s not to say I don’t have days where I cry it out or drink about it. Because I do. But I also have this ability to just see past the bad and look to the good. Maybe it’s little picture/big picture thing. Maybe I just smile through the pain. Or maybe I’ve just surrounded myself with some kick-ass people that’ll stand by me through anything. I don’t quite understand it, but I can tell you right now that I’m thankful.