Learning to love anyone, particularly yourself, is a plethora of a feeling. Especially when you feel so lost, hurt and confused it is imperative to honor oneself. This is difficult, but with practice, patience and time things will get better. I have had my fair share of whirlwind moments and at times still do. Creating i've decided to love myself was a steppingstone in conquering difficult challenges that I have had to face. It allowed me to express myself, share my inner feelings with the world, and prove to myself that I can accomplish what I set out to do. I am thankful for all that I have gone through to be able to continue sharing my work with everyone. If you came across this it wasn't not by chance-it was meant for you to discover, you need a reminder that you deserve to love and be loved. Also everyone has ups and downs, you need to remember to minimize the downs and maximize the ups. As I step into a next chapter of my life, continue learning to navigate through life as a wife, mother, sister and daughter. Challenges and difficulties still arise, however learning to steer through daily existence can be extremely rewarding and fulfilling. All that I have gone through, both good and not so good, has made me the person I am today and I would not change a thing. My second collection of poems, Secrets Of A Concrete Flower is a comprehensive in-depth collection of healing, adapting to growth, change, and creating a new world filled with endless opportunities. It reflects my difficult journey to understand life, to live without fear of failure or of what others may perceive of me. My desire is that while reading the writings in my book and seeing things from my perspective you will be empowered. I lived in a negative environment paved in cement; nothing could grow in the toxicity. I became the flower that blossomed through it all. Hence I became the concrete flower, one that has risen through the cracks.