"It doesn't really matter what you used to be"

Ya know I used to be a lot of things. I used to be a strong soldier that would never admit I was in pain. I used to be someone's wife and never took any of my needs into consideration. I used to work for abusive bosses, and even refused a raise. As a kid, I would get into fights and never did my homework. 
Standing proud of things that do not deserve praise isn't easy. My legs may shake, my voice may tremble, wet stuff may come out of my eyes, and thank god. Becoming the best person I can be in this world, is an innate desire we all have. I am proud that in some way, these not so valor moments help me to have compassion for others. I am proud to be able to tell some young kid, "Oh don't worry, I've done way worse than that", to have them smile and hopefully not be so hard on themselves. I am proud that for whatever reason during those long dark times I have found resolution.