MMM post # 9

Dear Mom,
This is not an attack on you per say, just a girls influence from mothering. I love you...and your influence. A lot of you has made me me.

I am Who I am (link to Modern Molly Mormon)

I wrote this little ditty many years back when I was finding my way. I dedicated it to all the women in the world, and I still do. Today, I like to break it out when the pressures of life make it hard to be myself and easy to start apologizing for my inabilities. Hope it makes an impact in your life.

I am who I am

I am who I am

Because my mother told me to be that way,

And if I was not,

Then I would surely hear about it!

I am who I am

Because the world around me told me I ought to be,

And without the world telling me

Who, in the world, would I be?

I am who I am

Because I was shown I was beautiful.

Not only inside and out

But everywhere, throughout me.

I am who I am

Because the associates around me

Are who they are,

And that is who I should be.

I am who I am

Because I discovered what was wrong with this picture.

Why I could not, would not, and should not

Be anything but me.

And so, I am who I am

Because I chose to be;

Not because something or somebody told me that

This, is how I should be.

I am who I am

Because the sun set one day,

And it cast colors of my life that had been seen

And many, that had yet to be seen.

I am who I am

Because that day when the sun set, I contemplated

What it meant to be me, in such a homogeneous,

Almost colorless society, in which I had created.

I became who I am

Because I found that different is good,

And that I don’t have to have my hair done, and my make-up on

To be beautiful.

I am who I am

Because my life has embraced me with strength, courage and ambition,

to be anyone and anything,

And still be proud of being me.

-Jennifer Brown Perkins-

Mountain

Molly