In 2010, a friend asked me; "If you could be remembered by one thing, what would it be?" I responded: "I want to leave a people better than they were; happier, and to see that they are stronger than they think."

I work with volunteers, and there is one who shares a love of the outdoors, hiking, animals, rocks, and plants, like I do. He has given me special rocks and shell fossills on trips he has taken, and I have given him a rock from a road trip. We share stories, and compared different stones. Last week, he has given me the greatest gift of all; he has shown me how people really see me on the inside. He said: I was up north at a beach (I do not remember which one), and there were all these shells in the sand. You would have loved them! They had beautiful markings displayed on them and I thought of you. You would have loved them!

He saw what I see as beautiful, he appreciiated the beauty of the natural display, and he knew it was something I see. He made me realize that is how people are seeing me; with my own eyes they see the beauty I am reflecting back to them. They see it, they feel it, and it makes them happier for it. It was the best compliment I could receive.