Growing up as a shy girl, writing helped me develop my thoughts and get my point across when speaking verbally was too hard for me. Although I missed out on a number of great opportunities, writing has opened doors for me. One major opportunity so far was the publishing of my first book on forgiveness called “I Forgive You.” As a young adult, I made many mistakes and in my book, I talk about the power of forgiveness.

Our past should not define who we are. Life is about learning and moving forward. People tend to judge you based on your past, forgetting about how you are right now. It’s easy to do so and sometimes the past comes back to haunt us. Time allows us to heal, and because of that, I can more easily forgive those who have hurt me. There is no magical formula for dealing with forgiveness; but with prayer and faith in God, and finding that right source of art that puts you in a place of peace and tranquility, can all help you toward your goal of spreading positivity.

The younger generation tends to respond better to various forms of art. It can be therapeutic for many. Many people may experience stages in their lives when communication can be difficult, and we feel as though others cannot comprehend what they are going through. Art is expression; it is that simple. Art definitely saved my life. It is an escape from all of life’s trials, giving an opportunity to deal with pain, and establish how to move forward.