I am unable to say that only one person has had a significant influence on my life, because there are two, my parents. They have taught things to me one on one and as a couple. .
My mother has taught me through out my life and to this day many, many things. She has stressed to me to never rely on a man, never allow a man to hit you, stand up in what you believe in and that your children always come first. The one thing though that she tells me that I truly treasure is even though you may feel the world is on your shoulders, never give up and you will succeed. .
Every day, I tell myself that and can recall in my mind her exact voice telling me that. I have not had your typical life and just those few words spoken to me has made the person I am today. Determination is the key to success.
My father may not teach me as much as my mother, but the one thing he has shown me is how to remain calm and think things through before reacting. There are times when I become so frustrated I feel like overreacting. Before I do, I ask myself, how would my father handle this situation? Then, I find myself going through the thought process and usually the situation ends on a good note. He also has taught me to not be upset when dealing with someone who is not at fault. Everyone has a job to do and should be treated equally.
My parents as a couple have shown me what a marriage is all about. They have been married for 33 years and are like two little lovebirds. They didn't have the best marriage for a long time, but they showed me how you work through problems and not run from them. They taught me not to get married for the wrong reason but for the right ones. They have also expressed to me the true meaning of family. This did not come until their marriage issues were resolved. They discovered how important your family is and they showed that to me. They always said, "You only have one family. You may not agree with some of their decisions, but you still love them and support them.
