I was happy over little things: mango sorbet, and running, and the way my feet felt touching the ground when I ran.

Your life is a journey of learning to love yourself first and then extending that love to others in every encounter.

For the first time, I wasn't afraid to be smart, and she often stayed after school to work with me.

I urge you to pursue preserving your personal history to allow your children and grandchildren to know who you were as a child and what your hopes and dreams were.

I've learned to rely on the strength I inherited from all those who came before me-the grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and brothers who were tested with unimaginable hardships and still survived. 'I go forth alone, and stand as ten thousand,' Maya Angelou proclaimed in her poem 'Our Grandmothers.' When I move through the world, I bring all my history with me-all the people who paved the way for me are part of who I am.

I believe the choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself.

Wherever you are in life, look at your beliefs. They put you there