We all know one person

I'm diving in.  Yes, it’s terrifying to expose the parts of me that have been buried for so long, but I believe you will understand how these pieces have shaped me into the person I am today.  I share each of these bits to help you. I was around 10 when it all began—the "encounters." I was confused, caught between the love and trust of those closest to me, and the message they unknowingly taught me: that I was to be seen but never heard. My truth was something to be hidden, because somehow, I believed it was my fault. We moved, but the cycle continued. It wasn’t until I became a woman, around 12, that the encounters stopped. My sister, a silent strength, helped me navigate the changes of growing up, and in her own quiet way, she showed me that I wasn’t alone. When I tried to speak up, to tell an adult, I was told that it was just something that happened in every family. “Brush it under the carpet,” they said. I remember thinking, this can’t be right . Why didn’t someone t...

Now that you know a bit more about this journey, I want to share with you how those moments shaped who I am today. When I was just five years old, a complete stranger took my hand and led me to a local mall. At that age, I didn’t understand what was happening. I placed my trust in this person, someone who wanted nothing in return but to show me kindness. That experience planted the seed for how I wanted to live my life—guided by love, generosity, and trust. This stranger gave me more than just a shopping trip; she gave me a glimpse of what the world could be when we offer kindness without expectation. It wasn’t about the material gifts—though I still remember those red shoes like they were yesterday—it was about the act of giving. Her kindness became a lesson for me to trust others with an open heart and to pay it forward, no matter how small the gesture. My intentions have always been simple: to live with kindness, and to share it wherever I can. When she asked me what I wanted, I nev...