I’m the Tiara Queen!

If you could look into my closet, you’d possibly come to the conclusion that I am the queen of tiaras! It’s true! There are people around the area who ask me if something is wrong when I don’t wear a tiara out in public!

There’s a reason or two for that…

For most of my life, I didn’t know my worth. Coming from an extremely abusive home, any significant days or moments were not celebrated. I wasn’t congratulated. I wasn’t given any awards by my family. My stomach churned on my birthday, a day that was just like any other day of the year in my parents’ house.

Then I moved away from that house to enter college. I struggled and found ways to make the money I needed to complete my degree in slightly over the normal four years most people complete a degree. No one came to my graduation to congratulate me for all the work I did… to tell me how proud of me they were. I was met with derision and sarcasm. “Who do you think you are?”

Moving forward, I had relationships and jobs and lots of ups and downs. It took a long time for me to acknowledge my own accomplishments… My own greatness.

A key element of life is gratitude. It’s the key to happiness.

Even though there were many times I begged God to put me in the right family (He’d obviously made a mistake by putting me in the one filled with abuse and anger), I found a way to fill my heart with gratitude.

I was grateful that I could see the beauty around me in the smallest observations of nature. I was grateful that I was kind, attributing that to the grace of God. My life transformed from being a victim to being a cheerleader and a conduit for healing others, and I was grateful.

My journey of self-care and self-love turned a switch in me that allowed me to acknowledge myself for the person I’d become, despite the painful life I’d endured as a child. I congratulated myself for overcoming the hardships of the life I made for myself in my evolution as a human being.

I began celebrating the small wins and joys of my life. I gave myself high-fives and special birthday treats. I celebrated who I’d become with days filled with wonder and play.

Several years ago, I was given a beautiful rhinestone tiara for just being me. It was special. I celebrated with a delicious meal out at a new and charming restaurant, along with a dreamy afternoon on a quilt beside the Tennessee River in Chattanooga.

From that day forward, I found myself wearing the tiara at times when I wanted to get a positive boost. Other people responded with smiles and cheerful congratulations.

Thus, I found a new tiara that represented some special day in each month, and began wearing them out in public, not just at home. I became a walking celebration of life. The rhinestone tiara became the one I wear the entire month of October to celebrate my birth month!

Today, with many friends, I celebrate my worth and my accomplishments. How do you celebrate you?