I try to be more accountable for my own actions and reactions to others.

I have had some success, and I am thankful for the success, but the other side of my story is that I have not been able to really solve all of my problems. I love being an author. For me writing is in my blood. I have kept journals since I was in my 20s. I had difficult experiences but I never gave up hope. Hope is the only thing I have. When I feel I’m not as liked or as accepted I remind myself that certain people like me. I had a traumatic childhood that was far from ideal but it was mine. I had successes older and didn’t overthink them. I had failures, but I tried to learn from my failures and mistakes. I never had much popularity, but I am so comfortable in my own skin now that I am older. Kids often bullied me and teased me mercilessly when I was a child. I was a little black female child that was teased because of my skin color. I try to socialize more. I have had some people like me and it felt good to have some of the people like me, but there are people who I felt disliked by. Even despite the good experiences I had being able to connect with my peers I tried to be careful not to get with bad company. I was glad to connect with my peers. I have been driving for almost a year with a probationary license. I want to buy a used SUV in the spring this year. I am a work in progress.