[this poem was published on Facebook and is reproduced here with permission from the author]

Every minute
every second
every moment
has made me

Every scar
every tear
every movement
every memory

Looking inwards
outwards
dreaming
awake

This is who I am.

Strengths
Weaknesses
Successes
Failures

All are.

Finding oneself is no more
than how seeing how
you create yourself.
Acceptance is the key.

Open minded
on the base
of my being
Not forgotten
but not ruled by

Strength of spirit
Spirit of strength
Forgive and live.

Life's too short otherwise.

-- Laura Mc Donald