Excerpt
I know that may seem totally out of place, but I assure you that it isn’t. Let me explain. On top of being set up with a blind date by my best friend, everyone else was trying to control every aspect of my day. My mother wanted me to disregard what I planned to wear and brought over this couture gown. (It’s a backyard soirée for crying out loud!) My sister insisted that I not make pink the primary color in the decorations because she liked purple instead. (Hello, my favorite color is pink not purple.) My co-workers insisted that I have an indoor party because it was going to be too warm outside for ‘some folks’, namely them. (I won’t even justify that with a comment.) And my father, of all people, had the nerve to tell me about a month ago that I should lose ten pounds before I step in the spotlight. What kind of mess is that?

Now do you see why I cracked? It’s my own fault though. I’ll admit that. If I had not been everyone’s puppet for so many years, I would have the backbone to stand up for myself and just say no. Of course I said no in my head where no one could hear me. Then I’d vent to whoever wasn’t the culprit at the time about how upset I was. I never did anything about it though. If you examined my life with a magnifying glass, you’d find everyone else’s fingerprints but my own. Take my closet, for instance. My mother has bought every single item in it. I hate 95% of what’s in there but I wear it anyway. Why? Because I’d hate to hurt her feelings. My best friend decorated my condo in some kind of feng shui Buddhist décor, even though I’m Baptist and prefer country chic. I’d hate to hurt her feelings too so I left it like it was. My dad has paid for a lifetime membership at his gym complete with personal trainers, and I never really have time to go. Honestly I don’t have the desire to go, but I make time because I’d hate to hurt his feelings too. Do you see the pattern here?

So this is what I know. I’m tired of everyone narrating my life. I’m not going to stand for the things I’ve been standing for anymore. Gone are the days that people can tell me how to look, how much to weigh, and who to love. I’m done being that girl. I’m ready to be my own woman.