I Believe in Us by Jessica Manley

I believe in love. In the world we are in today, when most things don't make sense, what else do we have to believe in? I tell my loved ones everyday how important it is to grasp the love that someone has given you. For there are people in this world that may search for that same kind of love their whole lives. I believe love is something we cannot take for granted, as it is the most precious gift to give and receive. There is no action that cannot be forgiven if that true love is there fighting it's way through to the heart that has been hurt. I remind my family to forgive and remember how lucky they are to have a love that is unconditional.

This leads me to strongly believe in forgiveness. Life is short, what action or conflict can be so big, that one would be willing to throw love away for? We must forgive, learn and move forward from mistakes that have been made. For if we don't, our lives can become stagnate and bitter. We don't have time for that!

I also believe in difference. If we were all the same, what need would we have for one another in our lives. Do not be afraid to voice different opinions, and often walk to the beat of a different drum. That is what puts the colors in our lives. I have had the opportuntiy to meet and befriend some of my closest companions by stepping out of the box and speaking my mind. You would be surprised at the respect you may gain just by having the courage to speak out for what you believe in.

It is apparent that in the world we live in today, ultimate peace cannot be achieved. Therefore, I believe that if we can all find the little peace inside ourselves, we can contribute to a bigger peace within our world. Accept yourself for who you are. Challenge yourself to succeed in all the things your heart desires, and shoot for complete contentment in yourself. If you are at peace with who you are, people will feel that from your heart, and slowly they will find ways to be at peace with themselves. If we could all achieve that, don't you think that we'd be a lot closer to a peacful world?