I still remember the conversation that made me take the biggest risk of my life. I was on a phone call with my friend who had moved to Philadelphia after High School to spend time with her father. I was 20 yrs old, and had never left Los Angeles and the East Coast was this magical land to me. I had seen it in movies and TV shows, and it always seemed to be “the” place to be when you were an adult. I was going through a small depression, and I just knew I needed to make a change. By the end of that 20 minute phone call, I told my friend “hey, do you need a roommate? I’m moving in.”
I had to learn who to trust and form my own family- my friends.
For a 20 yr old first generation Latina from a somewhat traditional household, this was not common. In fact, my family freaked. But, none were as freaked as I was. I mean really… what the hell was I doing? I knew ONE PERSON. Had no job, barely had somewhere to sleep, and did I mention, had NEVER LEFT L.A. BEFORE. Yup. But, I had made my decision and I took the biggest leap of my life. I sold my stuff, packed up some stuff and boarded my first flight ever and moved to Philadelphia. I was scared to death. For the first time in my life, I was completely on my own. I ended up living there for almost 10 years (long past the 6 months my family predicted). My time there was a lesson in learning to live independently, in learning who I was, who I wanted to be and what I valued the most. It was challenging and I got the biggest reward, I got to know myself better than I ever had and I became a strong, independent woman. I would never trade that time in my life for anything… it gave my husband, daughter.. and turned me into who I am.
Me and my friends, circa 2001. I was about 22.
I just shared my story on what made me stronger, and Angel Soft invites you to do the same for a chance to win an Angel Soft Gift Pack that includes a $25 Target Gift Card. You can also download a coupon for $.25 off a 4 pack of Angel Soft to try it yourself.
Enter the giveaway via the form below, open to US only, ends 3/14 at 11:59pm EST, void where prohibited. Make sure you Like Angel Soft Latino on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter. Good Luck!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Angel Soft. However, all opinions are my own.
My 3 c-sections made me stronger.
Being a Mom made me stronger.
Moving to a different country made me stronger
Moving to another state made me stronger
I moved here from halfway across the world with my unwell Husband and newborn son, definitely made me stronger.
Motherhood has made me stronger.
Traveled and lived in different countries has made me 2x stronger.
My husband and i both lost our jobs when the place we worked at closed.
being a mom!!
My divorce and working two jobs at once made me stronger
Going through a high risk pregnancy with my daughter made me 2X stronger.
starting my own business
Having children has made me stronger.
As I get older, I seem to get stronger.
Thank you.
Being a single working parent has made me stronger.
Thank you.
Being a Mom of teenagers.
My husbands a truck driver and is only home 4 days a month,being on my own has made me stronger
An accident that left me in a wheelchair. I discovered I was much stronger than I thought.
10 years ago I was diagnosed with RA and I’ve learned to be strong and deal with it.
Thanks for the contest.
My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was 10. Thankfully she pulled through it and is still alive today but the thought of facing my life without my mother made me 2x stronger!
Working 2 jobs, while going to college full time (and making straight A’s), all while being a single mom
being mistreated when I was young has left me 2 x stronger
Being a mother makes me stronger.
Dealing with my cousin’s mental break down made me stronger.
I survived 3 serious illnesses. That made me stronger.
Hi Yolanda. Yea’ for you taking such a bold step with your life when you were so young. I was in a 10 year relationship once and I left with little more than a place to live. Even though we reunited I prove to him and even more so to my self that I could do anything. It reminded me to never live in fear of failure again and to believe in myself.
Thanks for letting me enter.
Hugs…Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute
Helping my stepfather recover after losing his leg in a motorcycle accident helped to make me a stronger person
Dealing with the death of someone close to me.
going through 2 deployments with my hubby
Having my daughter made me stronger
My handsome son
being a mom made me stronger.
Raising kids has made me stronger.
I had no specific career plans, and only vague ideas of what my job desires were. To the surprise of family I ended up in the military. What a game changer for me. You must hold your own and compete with men and once you settled in and were comfortable doing one job, guaranteed you would be shifted to a different job. That decision to enter the military continually challenged and changed me.
all my son’s major health issues
When I was in 6th grade my father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and only given months to live. My parents opted for an experimental surgery, that ended up not woring how they intended but it saved his live none the less. 16 years later he was diagnosed with Amyloidosis and is undergoing chemotherapy. Having to deal with my father being delt tough diagnosis’s has made me stronger
The birth of my children.
Raising two teens by myself definitely made me stronger
moving away from family
my husband
Becoming a Mother made me Superwoman!
Overcoming anxiety and going back to college made me stronger.
having kids!
My nine children and having faith in the Lord has made me a much stronger person.
Being married for 30 years!
Moving away from home
email subscriber tubbytelly at gmail dot com
m yjob has made me stronger, thanks
karenb834atyahoo.com
Losing my 2 dogs to cancer a day apart has made me stronger.
Surviving high school as a fat kid
exercise daily
Being a full time caregiver for my mom who has Alzheimers/dementia
Going off to college on my own and becoming more independent made me stronger
Having my daughter made me stronger.
We’re going thru a situation right now and it’s making me and my husband stronger.
Knowing that my family depends on me makes me stronger.
My sons
chronic tendonitis of the knees and wrists made me stronger
taking care of my kids by myself
have 2 jobs
My family makes me stronger.
My daughter being born 3 months early.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
Watching my son overcome complications from open heart surgery has made me stronger.
weights
Dealing with a serious illness in two of my little ones within the same year made me 2x stronger.
Knowing my kids love me makes me stronger.
moving out on my own.
my past has made me stronger
Leaving an abusive marriage made me realize how strong I really was.
God makes me stronger each and every day
Battling drug and alcohol dependency
Stay strong, you can do it…just day by day right? (My husband also is recovering- over 2 yrs sober now!
moving to a new state this year made me stronger
Having my oldest daughter at a young age. She taught me how to be unselfish and compassionate. She changed my whole life.
I think that all of the past experiences in my life have added to my strength. Spiritual strength, moral strength, the strength to know better…
God has saved me from many bad situations and made me stronger!
when I had to raise my two younger sisters when my parents abandoned me
Everything I’ve been through the last five years has made me stronger. From graduating college, dealing with chronic illness, getting diagnosed with clinical depression and G.A.D., having an ileostomy, working a horrible job and moving to another state. Too many things. But I’m still alive so I’m stronger for my trials.
Overcoming infertility issues due to me having PCOS.
I can think of several tried and true methods “exercises” that make me feel stronger:
1. Face and conquer or overcome something I am/was afraid of – for whatever reason, intimidation, irrational fear or even for fear of failure. The accomplishment (and the courage to even try to take it on) is very gratifying, uplifting and empowering.
2. Accomplish something (Just DO IT!) you’ve been procrastinating about or putting off forever.
3. Learn something new. When you open yourself to learning new things – you grow. And when I open myself to learning and growing (evolving – I feel as if both me and the world have somehow become larger,
Hearing my daughter may have leukemia has made me stronger. Thank God she didn’t but just hearing something like that changes you. It make you realize what’s important and lets you know that you are stronger than you thought you were. Thank you!
I think having my kids has made me a stronger person.
Raising 2 children has definitely made me stronger!
My mom and dad moved away when I was married only a year. It made me have todeal with my life as a grown up. It was not always easy but i think it made my marriage stronger
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Helping family members through illness
Dealing with an anxiety disorder makes me stronger.
My husband with all his great support and advice!
Trying out new hobbies makes me stronger (cross-stitching, biking, etc.)
Watching my father battle ALS (a terminal condition) and helping to care for him as his health failed made me stronger.
Years of Karate lessons
Going through a divorce with 2 kids made me stronger.
being a mom
Being a single mom, working full time and going to school at 18 made me strong. 12 yrs later I have a wonderful son, a fantastic hubby and beautiful daughter and feel like I can do anything!
Losing my mom when I was a kid made me stronger!
Having all Boys and growing up with brother’s makes me a stronger woman!
Moving away from all family and friends with a newborn to a place where I knew no one except my husband, who worked all the the time, made me stronger.
battling and overcoming anxiety & depression:)
jmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com
My two kids have made me a stronger person
Having my kids have made me stronger
Being a MOMMA!
Having a cyst the size of a orange removed with my ovary while being 5 months pregnant with my first child, MADE me stronger. It was extremely scary for me and my unborn son and also was a cancer scare! Ended up just being a cyst and mom and baby both doing well!
Coping with my illness has made me stronger.
My mother makes me stronger – she reminds me of my inner strength all the time
My children. They have given me the power to transform my life!
I think the daily decisions we make in the interest of our families and friends makes me stronger. Each day I grow stronger and wiser, each and every day, with each decision and obstacle and triumph.
Having the support of my loving Husband & children as well as a strong Faith in God allowed me to be strong enough to go back to school @ age 40 (!) to get my Nursing degree!!! Thanks for the chance….
My three children have made me stronger
being diagnosed with cancer with a 6 month old made me stronger
nannypanpan@gmail.com
having my 2 kids makes me stronger.seeing their little faces gives me the strength to get through whatever life throws our way!
Beating anxiety has made me stronger.
Challenges with family have made me stronger
Moving to a new state to go to school
a deeper understanding of my Catholic faith has made me stronger
Volunteering makes me stronger.
Taking care of my mom when my father died made me 2x stronger!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
going thru school.
Being in labor with my son for 26 hours made me 2x stronger.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 @ gmail dot com
My family especially my mom, my fb is Michelle Trump and my email is tracietrump@yahoo.com
giving birth made me stronger
having to deal with losing my job and figuring out how to make it has definately made me stronger
God makes me stronger and when I deployed with navy and now going to college makes me stronger
My kids make me stronger!
Raising my 8 year grandson as a Senior gives me strength
Raising three children made me stronger.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
spending time with my family
Doing my best at work and receiving a big promotion made me stronger.
My husband is away on military deployment a lot — that makes me stronger
I am about to have my 7th child…having this many children you have to be a strong person!!!
Becoming a mom made me stronger.
Being a single parent was definitely a challenge for me but the best decision I could have made for my Son and myself. We’ve had a much better life than had we stayed with his dad. I’ve been divorced since 1993, my Son is now almost 23 years old and we made it! We learned a lot together and many of our experiences and struggles, I think, have made him more prepared for the ‘real world’ and the challenges it can have. He’s grown up to be a fantastic man! I’m so proud of him!
My 2nd big challenge was becoming a police officer. People don’t seem to think that women can do it. On top of being a woman, I was 5’1″ and 105 lbs. when I started. I climbed in rank quickly, moved in the criminal investigations division and had an excellent conviction rate. And, being in a large county (2nd largest in Arkansas), I chose to become an Emergency Medical Technicial and volunteer firefighter, as well, so I could better serve my community.
I have since ended up with a 3rd challenge that has been very trying… I have a rare neurological disorder that doctors cannot diagnose. They’ve never seen it before. Lucky me, right? I became disabled 5 years ago at the age of 38. I’ve lost most of my mobility and deal with so much pain and other horrible symptoms that reallly test me. I try to see it as just another challenge, one that, if I continue to fight and search for doctors, I may be able to reduce symptoms or maybe someday control. I’m not giving up!
Challenges are what builds character and strength. I commend you for taking control of your life and rolling with the punches, so to speak. Our biggest challenges can be ourselves. Change can be hard but can end up being the best thing to ever happen to us.
ubrewme@yahoo.com
Sorry for the length but sharing
I don’t normally reply to giveaway comments but I wanted to say I think you are amazing! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, but I know you will get through this amazingly because of your positive attitude despite the obstacles you were given. You are inspiring!
my awesome son going to Iraq 3x for 15mos each tour made me stronger.
when my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and knowing I would have to raise my daughters without her love and support
watching my mom die of breast cancer last year.
I have 2 jobs and school force me be stronger, I think!
My family makes me stronger — together we are mighty.
Having to juggle 2 small children a home and job while my husband is deployed in Afghanistan.
Surviving cancer at a young age made me stronger:)
Being a divorced single parent has made be a stronger person.
Just having my wonderful family close has made me stronger.
Going to graduate school after having three kids has made me stronger. Thanks for the chance to win!
mrsmchappell at gmail dot com
Recognizing that my parents don’t have to approve of or be proud of all of my life decisions has made me strong enough to follow my dreams and even fail sometimes. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t taken 30 years to learn the lesson but I realize that it made me willing to stand up for what really matters to me.
Getting older and doing more for myself
I am a domestic abuse survivor and that has made me stronger
Having to deal with my children’s health issues has made me stronger.
living a full life makes me stronger
Moving to another country
Getting cancer in 2011 and going through chemo for 5 1/2 months. I had the love and support of my family and most of all God was by my side the whole time.I didn’t know how strong I was until I got cancer,now I’m even stronger. Thank you for the cool giveaway!