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[O_O]  I know what you learned that day.

You learned that asking for instruction was dangerous.

You learned that a simple question could become a sudden emergency.

You learned your mother would deceive you.

You learned that other people’s drama could swallow your dream.

You learned that when you reach for connection, the world might collapse around you.

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^-.-^  What I did not learn that day is to quit/give up/or believe that I wasn’t worth the effort.

That’s Self resilience. Self Determination.

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[O_O]   For a while, every memory of dirt, seeds, and growing things carried the weight of that afternoon. Every garden gate led back to the same scene.

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^-.-^  Now you’re just making up stuff to be dreary.

Fact: I found books. I found mentors, step-mom, neighbors, people who had similar projects, I studied and became a Master Gardener. 

I built gardens so children could learn how to garden.

I built gardens for neighbors.

I found grants and created container gardens for seniors.

I worked in raised beds, community gardens, historic landscapes, and forgotten urban lots.

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[O_O]   Not because someone taught you.

You learned how to teach yourself, find teachers and then you taught others.

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< 0w0 >    What that woman thought she could destroy in you…. On a selfish whim … just…to be cruel…

^o.o^  Sure, It hurt.  >>> It was a psychological whammy! <<<

It didn’t break you.

It didn’t scar you or truncate your growth.

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^-.-^   You healed from that trauma.

You reclaimed your dream.

You made sure it happened.

And you did it with your yellow wagon,

riding a green tricycle, 

wearing cat-eared headphones

So Proud YOU became YOU.

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Take your dreams back.