I believe that it is those who love us who challenge us most to be the best people we can be so that we can never be complacent with being static, satisfied versions of ourselves. And so I am glad that there are people in my life who haven't let me be just who I was when I woke up today or yesterday.  As a result of some recent healthy & difficult conversations with people whom I love dearly, I felt pushed to focus on what my goal is in life.  Their voices, their interactions (whether direct or indirect) have challenged me to come to the following conclusion.

 (I wrote this on our bathroom mirror...I highly recommend lip liner for self-motivation and world-conquering!)
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"I am who I was born to be.
I am beautiful how I woke up this morning.
I will not settle for less than whom I, or my dad, or my grandfather think I should be.
If I think I can conquer the day and be respectable at the end of the day, then I will be proud of who I was by the end of the day.
I will do my best to be a superb wife and mother while simultaneously doing all of these things.
But "these things" must come first before I can "be a superb  wife and mother." 2/18/2012
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(And, yes, I signed the date on the mirror.  I'm a packrat but I'm an organizer, too.)

I challenge anyone who reads this to push yourself and let yourself be pushed by others - even if they don't realize they are pushing you...even if their intention is to push you down.  You'll come back stronger if you do it with your eyes wide open.