Homosexuality

June 26, 2015 was a huge day in history...and the day I realized just how much people truly hated homosexuals and homosexuality. On this day, many people became "religious," quoting Bible scriptures that I'm sure they found via Google...

I am not a homosexual. I think the female body is a thing of beauty but I'm not sexually attracted to it. I am a Christian. I don't attend church the way I used to but I do believe in God, Jesus, and I do my best to exercise faith. I am a Black woman. I come from a race that has been oppressed for centuries...and as early as about 50 years ago. My mother is older than 50 (but looks my age!), which means she was born in an era where Blacks weren't considered equal. My point? I SUPPORT SAME-SEX MARRIAGES.

I have a hard time understanding those that are against homosexuals having the same rights as heterosexuals. While I try my best to understand their point of view and accept differences of opinion, I can't bring myself to believe that so many people have a problem with certain human beings having the same rights as themselves. ESPECIALLY if those people are part of the minority.

As a Black woman, there are moments when I felt like I didn't "belong." When I first started college, I gravitated to what I knew: other Black females. I hung out with them for a week. Went to lunch with them. But I didn't "fit." The conversations were not of interest to me and really, we had nothing in common except the color of our skin. I then met a young woman, who was White, and we instantly clicked and are still friends to this day. Once I started hanging out with her, I met other White females that I either shared similar interests with or they were just cool to hang around. Those same Black girls made fun of me, stating that I wanted to be "White" and looked down their noses at me like I was filled with self-hate and it smelled like skunk shit.

I once lived with a friend's family after I graduated college. They were a fine family. Close-knit and kind. I was so appreciative of the opportunity they provided for me by allowing me to live with them. They were White. I come from a different background than my friend and there were times when the family would go out and I felt my Black skin made me stand out. I felt people were staring at me like I was the family pet. My friend's family, especially her mother, never made me feel like I didn't belong. It was some insecurity with being the only Black face in a sea of White.

With all that being said, how could I possibly say that homosexuals don't deserve the same rights as people like myself? With my experiences, how could I possibly say that they "don't belong?" With minorities, how could they, a people that come from oppression, possibly have the audacity to say that homosexuals aren't equal and shouldn't be free to marry who they choose?

Aaaahhh...because the BIBLE speaks against it! The problem isn't with the Bible...the problem is the people spitting out scriptures and verses to justify their hatred and ignorance. You know...the same way slavemasters did towards slaves...the way racist Governor George Wallace did in his 1963 Inaugural Address...the way US Senator Theodore Bilbo (and other members of the Ku Klux Klan) did...so on and so forth. People tend to hide behind the Bible and pick and choose a verse here and a verse there to okay their lifestyle.

The thing is, if you want to get "religious," we ALL were born into sin and NONE of us are perfect. I see married men who cheat on their wives condemning homosexual marriage. I see women on their 3rd, 4th, or 5th husbands condemning homosexual marriage. I see sidepieces, people in interracial relationships, parents with children out of wedlock, people with criminal history, etc. etc. condemning homosexual marriage. These people quote Leviticus but in the same breath state that the New Testament is what we as Christians should follow. We are in no position to judge, yet we (and I use "we" in a generalized way) are harshly judging HUMAN BEINGS for their "lifestyle." I don't see homosexual people judging heterosexual people and their 50% divorce rate.

You don't have to agree with homosexuality. You don't have to understand it. But when I hear people saying that they can "live amongst us" but they can't "have our same rights" and "If my son/daughter came home, I would practically disown them because homosexuality is a sin," my brain can't help but be crushed by the amount of ignorance and stupidity some people possess. These same people live in sin daily but homosexuality is THE sin that can't be tolerated by any means. *Rolls eyes*

My best friend is gay and got married on June 30 to a man who he says treats him the way he deserves and he is happy. Guess what? I'm happy for him. Should he not have the love from another simply because he loves men? There are heterosexual people (single AND taken) that would LOVE the relationship that my best friend has with his husband.

As awesome, smart, good-hearted, sweet, sarcastic, kind, thoughtful, empathetic, and sympathetic as I am towards others, would you disown me if I did say I was gay? Would I be less of a mother because of it? Would I be less of a person because of it? Would I be allowed to go to your church with my lover and pray to and praise God like you?

And Christians wonder why people choose to steer clear of the church.

My Poem of Support

Where The Hell You Been?

I have been so occupied with life that I neglected my blog. I want to get back into writing it so here is my update. 

WORK: I am still with the State of Texas as a CPS caseworker. I LOVE my career and I don't see myself doing anything else. It means so much that I can actually ACT on positively affecting families and keeping children safe instead of just TALKING about it. It's a job that helps me make a difference and that's what I've always been about. 

HOME: I've been in my home for almost 2 years now. I just recently got cable (lol) since my apartment complex doesn't allow for satellite dishes. Which, by the way, I think is STUPID. Anyway, I have it now so I'm not reduced to watching DVDs all day! I also got wifi for the very first time. Isn't that sad? Now that I have wifi, I'm not really sure why it took me so long to get it. 

RELATIONSHIP: I am in a relationship! We have mutual friends and started talking on Facebook. It is a long distance relationship. We have been dating since September 2014. What I love about our relationship is that he makes me feel secure and loved. I have no doubts or questions about his loyalty to me...something I haven't felt since dating my very first boyfriend. Due to the distance, we have to work very hard to keep our relationship going and so far, I believe we're doing a great job. He makes me smile, he makes me feel beautiful, he compliments me, he's consistent, he listens to me (although I swear he has ADD sometimes lol) and he always makes me feel important. He's definitely a keeper. Although the package isn't what people expected me to end up with, I'm glad that I can make up my own mind, or I would have missed out on a great guy. I let him meet my daughter in February 2015 and watched how he interacted with her like a hawk. Based upon their meeting, I determined that my family could meet him. They really like him. :)

THE OFFSPRING: My kiddo recently made 8 years old. She's still an amazing kid with a huge personality and a great sense of humor. She makes me so proud. She's a Level 2 Brown Belt in Tae Kwon Do and just finished playing soccer. I got her a betta fish and she has been really good with it. She's so smart and funny with a huge heart of gold. She enjoys writing poems (or as she calls them, "peoms") and making homemade cards. Some of her favorite shows on TV are Teen Titans and Full House. She's into girly things like lip gloss and nail polish. God help me. 

THE OFFSPRING'S PATERNAL UNIT: He lives in Nebraska and stopped talking to his kiddo because he got mad at me. When he gets mad at me, he takes it out on the offspring by not talking to her, either. The only reason why I know he's alive is because I get child support payments in my bank account. That's cool. They go into her bank account and with his help, I got her Christmas presents and paid for her birthday party. So thanks, Office of the Attorney General!

MY BEST FRIEND: My best friend recently got married in New York. I really wish I could have been there but unfortunately, I wasn't able to. I am super happy for him. And yes. He's a gay man married to a gay man and he is happy!

RACHEL DOLEZAL: LMFAO

GAY MARRIAGE AND CHRISTIANITY: I have pretty strong views regarding this. This may have to be a whole 'nother blog post. Just know that as a Christian myself, I feel that many Christians are hypocritical regarding gay marriage and as a Christian, I support gay marriage simply because I believe in equal human rights for all. 

CHURCH FIRES: Black people just can't get a break, even if we're in the House of the Lord minding our own damn business. Our country is so backwards that sometimes, it makes me ashamed to be an American. Sometimes. 

CHARLESTON: What an unfortunate situation. Are Black people the prey from whom White America feeds?

Glad to have caught you up. I miss writing here. I hope you miss me, too.  I did have a birthday on July 1. I accept late birthday wishes lol.

It's Been A While

It's been so long since I have written here but so much has happened that I am ashamed to admit that I hadn't had time for my poor little blog. I want to update you on my boring little life because...well...I know you care. (lol)

WORK:
I have a real job. A career. That I'm enjoying. I work for the State of Texas (can't tell you what) and it's something that I have wanted for quite some time now. Things had to happen in God's order for that to come to fruition and there it is! I struggled for awhile but He had this job waiting for me. It just had to be the right time. And looking back, it was the perfect time. In a couple of months, the job will be mobile meaning I will be working from home. Say whaaaat? Talk about convenience. Doing my work in my pajamas. Using my own toilet. Going up the street to my daughter's school to eat lunch with her. Benefits are amazing and while I won't get "stupid rich" working at this place, the salary fits my low-maintenance lifestyle. It works for me. I am blessed. 

HOME:
Finally got my own digs again. I'm very happy about it. Moved in during mid-August so I plan to finish unpacking by New Years. Yes. You read that right. It's in a nice, fairly quiet neighborhood. It's so nice to come home to your own. From January to mid-August, I missed that feeling. I am blessed.

OFFSPRING:
My daughter. My precocious, sarcastic, funny, dramatic, beautiful, intelligent, big-hearted, sensitive little 6-year old. She's a 1st grader at one of the best elementary schools in the district. She's doing really well. So far, she's a straight-A student. Her teacher says that she is one of her strongest readers in the class. Her teacher also says that she likes to help out around class. She gets it honestly; her mom's a social worker! My kid cracks me up with her on-beat humor and honest yet innocent way of thinking. Once I can tame the social butterfly within her, she'll be the perfect student. I'm so proud of her and I am blessed. 

LOVE LIFE:
Haha. 

SEX:
Nonexistent.

POETRY:
Still a'writing. Not performing anymore though for my own personal reasons but I do miss sharing my poems with people. I write my poems on my Facebook page: Constant Truth and on other poetry websites. I'm thankful for the internet because in person, I don't have anyone I can share my poetry with but that fact doesn't sting as much as it initially did. 

I have nothing more to say at this moment. My life has its ups and downs but I try hard to focus on the positives. Friends, real ones, are few and far between. People grow apart. It happens. As a Cancer, I try to value my relationships but when things are one-sided, I have to do like Mariah Carey and fly...like a Butterfly. However, I'm gaining new relationships at my place of employment and I am very happy about that. I'm content with the path my life is going and I have to thank God for it. Good things come to those who wait and I've been waiting a long time.  

Black Woman Attitude

I was part of a discussion on Facebook that focused on "Black woman attitude." I have heard this so often and as a Black woman, it really annoys me. Why do you not hear of the "White woman attitude?" The "Latin woman attitude?" "The Asian woman attitude?" It's like "ATTITUDE" is solely a Black woman thing and it's always depicted in a negative manner. Black men are quick to say that Black women have "attitude problems" and that's a big reason why they run to other races. I find that hurtful and quite offensive. So I sat and really thought about this "PHENOMENON" called the "BLACK WOMAN ATTITUDE." Naturally, I wrote a poem about it. Like to read it, here it go: 

They say that Black women have a lot of attitude
That we walk around like we're in a bad mood
No man hurts us the way the Black man does
So the basis of our "attitude" is simply because...
If we're too strong, then we scare away men
If that's the case, doesn't it make them weak then?
If we're too meek, then we get run the hell over,
Getting knocked down like Red Rover, Red Rover
If we speak our minds, then we have a fly mouth
"That's not how to get a man in the deep South!"
If we hide our thoughts, then we must be clueless
If we don't know how to cook, then we must be useless
If we don't sleep with you, we're probably gay
If we do, then we've become an easy lay
You tell your homies how we put it down in bed
Sharing all the details of how we gave, gave, gave you some head
If we do the same, oh, we talk too damn much
Bumping our gums, gossiping and such
If we openly express our sexual freedom
Then we deserve what "cums" since "we so dumb"
But if we're hesitant and seem a little rude
Then all of a sudden, we're stuck up prudes
If we have unprotected sex due to broken latex
And an unplanned pregnancy comes up next,
And we decide to keep the kid, then we're stupid whores
But if we decide to kill the kid, then we're running from consequences' doors
If we're gay, it's because a Black man has "done us wrong"
If we're celibate, it's because the right one (umm you?) hadn't come along
If we play the game like a playa, then we're skanks and hoes
But if we get played, it's our fault because it's the men we chose
If we've been single for years, it's because we're too picky
But if we jump from man to man, then all we're worth is a quickie
If we don't accept your bullshit, then we have attitude
If we do, then bitterness accrues and our outlook is screwed
If we expect more, then we're unappreciative
But if we accept less than, then what kind of life is that to live?
If we love with all our soul, then it's taken for granted
So it's hard to open up again because we've become disenchanted
We create walls to protect our hearts from pain
And men are too lazy to work for the gain
If we make them earn it, they get bored and disappear
To be vulnerable is a feeling that most men fear
If we make it too easy, then they search for more of a challenge
Carelessly taking what they want like a dirty syringe
If we date outside our race, then we couldn't handle the Black men
Yet they throw other races in our faces time and time again
If we speak properly and use correct English, we wanna be White
If we speak Ebonics and other slang, then we're ghetto and don't appear too bright
If we utilize an extensive vocabulary, we're uppity
If we dumb down our language, suddenly, we're dumb and ditzy
If we wear our hair natural, it looks nappy to you
If we use creamy crack, we're catering to the "White view"
Beaten by our Black men, hurt and lied to
We have no equal we can talk and cry to
If we stay in abuse, we're weak and settling
Our love's not enough; it seems unwelcoming
But if we leave, then we've abandoned them
Left them alone for others to condemn
If we lose our job, we apply for welfare
Oh the burden the taxpayers must bear!
We need some help to get back on our feet
So we get food stamps so that our children can eat
Using our EBT, we have folks looking down on us
"How you gonna carry all that food on the city bus?"
Now if we kept our pride, we would be hungry
"Willing to give us money to help me and my family?"
We're looked at as welfare queens and ratchet sluts
Walking around, big hips, thighs, and big ol' butts
Stereotypes weigh heavily and they're hard to remove
Leaving chips on our shoulders, messing up our groove
Forget all of us that actually speak with some sense
We don't all have "stank attitudes" when we come to our defense
We don't all aspire to be the next trashy reality star
Some of us actually have aspirations to take us pretty far
Most of us want the love of a strong Black man
No one should understand us the way that he can
Sadly, they don't make him the way they used to
Self-hatred makes them prefer a lighter hue
If they do want a Black woman, they want one with no voice
So to the strong Black woman, we're left with little choice
Damned if we don't, damned if we do
So excuse me if you think we have attitude!

(Copywritten so don't try to steal my work, thanks!). 

Being a Black woman is a catch-22. No matter what we say or do, it's never enough. We carry so many burdens and people wonder why we're so TOUGH. 

LIFE HAS MADE US THIS WAY. 

Finding Love: A Letter to my Daughter

My dear sweet Tatyana,

Made of sugar, spice, and something not so nice...I write this letter to help you in your journey, whenever you're ready to open up to love. I write this as a 30-year old that has never found love. Yet. Surely I have loved but I've never received it back. Does it make me sad? Sure, sometimes. I look at love around me but it's never with me. I don't want you to endure the hurt that accompanies unrequited love. I don't want you to waste your heart on someone who won't treasure it. I don't want you to give time to someone who will only waste it.

1. Find out if they are married. Married men are dangerous. They know what it takes to capture a woman's heart. They'll say what you want and need to hear. Married men will make plenty of time for you--when it's convenient for them. You are nothing more than their convenience. They may care deeply for you. They might actually love you. But not in the way you want them to. The love you are hoping from them has already been given away to someone that has their heart, last name, kid(s), bank account, time, etc. They very rarely leave their wives for their "other" women. Don't ever think for a second that they will because if you get caught up in that mentality, you'll be waiting forever for something that wasn't going to happen in the first place. Their lies are slick. Don't give your heart to a married man because he could never give you his while he's married. Karma WORKS. You never want to one day be the unsuspecting wife.

2. If a man ever puts his hands on you, LEAVE. Don't wait around hoping he'll change because there is a slim to none chance that he will. A man who hits you does NOT love you nor does he respect you. The longer you stay, the more your spirit will be broken. Physical scars go but it can take a lifetime for your spirit to heal, if it ever does. Don't allow a man to break your spirit. Don't waste your energy on a man who gives you more tears than smiles.

3. Look at how he treats his mom and/or grandmother(s). If he disrespects either, do NOT date him. He'll probably treat you worse.

4. Let a man SHOW you that he's worth the trouble. It's easy to fall in love with sweet words full of empty hope and promises. However, words are void if the actions don't coincide. If he can't show you that it hurts him to be without you, don't waste your time. You are beautiful, smart, and funny and you deserve someone who will not only acknowledge this daily, but also show you that he NEEDS you in his life. He needs to earn your love because it's priceless. Remember that.

5. Choose a man who isn't ashamed of you. Someone who is proud to be seen with you and show you off. Someone who will introduce you to his mother and best friend. Someone who will hold your hand in public. Someone who will kiss the top of your forehead just because.

6. Choose a man who will make time for you, even if it's midnight during the work week. You should be able to call him at any time on any phone number he has, whether it's his cell, work, or home. If he truly loves you and has nothing to hide, you will have each of these numbers. You deserve a man who will listen when you need an ear. Someone who will put others to the side to comfort you, within reason.

7. Facebook is the devil. It helps people do shady things within relationships. Don't allow online ANYTHING get in the way of having a healthy relationship. You should be able to showcase your love on his page without fear of "someone else" seeing it. If he hesitates in any way, shape, or form about you posting anything regarding the relationship on his page, chances are, he's hiding something and even bigger chances are, it's you. Don't ever be someone's little secret (refer to #5).

8. Your gut seldom lies. If you have unsettling, uneasy feelings about a man, please don't ignore them. Use your common sense. Many times, women won't see past what they want and end up ignoring red flags. Then, they wonder why their men "changed on them." People have ways of showing you exactly who they are if you truly pay attention. Open your eyes, use your mind. You'd be proud of all the bullets you can dodge.

9. Don't ever think you have to sleep with a man to prove how much you like/love him. Empty sex is pointless. Sex hurts when it's one-sided. A man who can't or won't respect your morals, values, and beliefs is undeserving of your time. You stick by what you believe and never waver. If he truly wants you, he'll wait for you when you are ready. He'll never pressure you into doing something you're not ready for because if he does, YOU are going to be the one feeling awful while he goes about his life without a second thought about you and your feelings.

10. Choose a man that you feel you can bring home to family and be proud of. Look at him closely. Will he be a good provider? Is he a hard worker? Is he determined? Motivated? Ambitious? WILL HE BE A GOOD FATHER? If I had a child, will he/she be able to look up to him? Will he love me more than I love him? Do we share similar hopes and dreams? How does he handle difficult situations? Does he believe in God? Is he reliable? Is he a good friend to me? How does he interact with the people I love? Does he make me feel that I'm the only woman he wants to be with? If we were to have a child together and we broke up, would he still be involved? These are some vital questions you should ask yourself before opening your heart to a man.

I hope that when you decide to love, you really consider these points when it comes to finding love. Many men will present themselves as being "the one" deserving of your heart but if you wait long enough, they'll show their true colors. I didn't have anyone to guide me on the road to love so I ended up taking wrong turns that dead-ended to hurt and pain. I'm very guarded. No one has taken the time to love me but with you, because it's still early for you, take my words of advice and I can assure you, someone is going to appreciate your worth. In the words of K-Ci and JoJo, "Don't rush. Take love slowly." It will truly be worth it. I promise.

Love (truly),
Mama

K-Ci & JoJo: Don't Rush (Take Love Slowly)

*Takiyo: Deadbeat and a 1/2

Just a brief rant. I cried quietly today as I held my crying daughter. Why? Because she's been trying to call her dad for weeks and he's not answering his phone or returning any of her calls. She's only 5. Today, she called him and I knew he wouldn't answer, just like the other times, but I won't keep her from trying. She leaves a message saying, "Hey daddy, I miss you and I love you and I want you to come see me." She gives me the phone and she says, "He NEVER answers his phone." She goes to lay on the couch and I hear her sniffling. I tell her to come to me and I see tears in her eyes. I ask her what's wrong, even though I already knew. "Daddy never calls me back. I just want him to call me back." How do I take this pain away? How can I prevent these tears from forming? I can't stop this hurt and I feel helpless. 

I know this feeling of abandonment...this feeling of not being wanted. And nothing truly ever makes it go away. You can suppress the feeling but in the back of your mind and heart, you wonder WHY. Was I not good enough? Did you not love me? Why did you leave me? It's a terrible feeling of unbearable pain and I hate that my daughter is feeling this way just because her dad can't stand ME. He's ruining THEIR relationship because of his misguided and selfish feelings regarding ME. It bothers me because it bothers my daughter. I don't care for him in the least bit and know that it's best that he isn't around but for my daughter's sake, I hate that because she has this weird attachment to him (saying he hasn't been involved much since her birth). 

I can always find a "replacement" father for her. I can find someone that could be a good role model and stepfather for her but no matter what, that person will never be her biological father. The sad thing is, the person her dad is right now, he'll NEVER step up and be the man and father to his child that he should naturally be. And I'm the one that has to watch her cry, feel her pain, and try to comfort her. It pisses me off but what can I do? He was my choice once upon a time and because of it, my daughter has to suffer. And that breaks my heart.

A poem I wrote for my daughter in hopes that my presence makes up for her dad's absence:
Me and You

*I used his first name but omitted his last name. Trying to protect most of his identity but really, what other Takiyo do you know? And by the way, this isn't slander because it's all true.

Temptation

Before you read this, know that there are spoilers to the movie "Temptation" if you hadn't seen it. So with that being said, you've been warned!

I just finished watching this movie and I will say, Tyler Perry has done it again! You can say what you want about him but he is successful because he creates characters and situations that anyone can relate to, particularly African-American people. This movie was so good to me because it brought me to a place I used to be and showed me the person I once was. 

***SPOILER ALERT***

"Temptation" is a movie about a woman, Judith, who grew up in the country and fell in love with her childhood sweetheart. She grew up in the church and believed in no sex before marriage. She moved away to the city with her new husband and things were good. He had work at a pharmacy, she worked as a relationship therapist. She meets a wealthy young man (a businessman that is trying to incorporate online dating with his successful social media website) who shows her things and makes her feel things she's never experienced before. She starts to realize how boring her life is and feels that her husband is taking her for granted. She delves deeper into this belief which results in her cheating on her husband. She feels guilty but eventually can't ignore her desires for the businessman, who has an intensity that she feels she doesn't get from her husband. With the businessman's encouragement, she leaves her husband for him. It also helps that he has the money to help her build her own practice, which she so desperately wants. Her husband ends up finding out and asks her to come home. She coldly tells him that she has everything she needs from the businessman. She later goes back to her home with the businessman to retrieve her laptop to find her mother praying with a prayer group. The mother desperately tries to keep the daughter there and in her attempt to do so, the businessman pushes her down. He forces Judith to go with him as she tries to check on her mother, which angers her. She lets him know exactly how he feels, which angers him to a boiling point and results in him beating her up. The husband goes to fight for his wife and finds her in the bathtub, bruised. He ends up fighting the businessman. Judith finds out that she has HIV. 

This movie reminds me of a temptation that I experienced in 2006. I was with my first boyfriend for 5 years. Good guy that I barely argued with. We had a ton of mutual friends and my family loved him. His family loved me. Things were great. 

On the outside. 

On the inside, I didn't want to be in the relationship anymore. He didn't excite me. I felt the relationship was boring and monotonous. I started wondering what it would be like with someone else. Inexperienced, naive, and bored, I left the door open for someone else to walk in. I found that someone. Attractive and tall, I instantly lusted for this man. To my surprise, he lusted for me, too. A love affair began and I felt so badly about it. My guilty conscience tore at me but I couldn't stop. This man told me things that fed into my vulnerability. This man gave me that excitement that I was missing from my boyfriend. I got things from him sexually that I wasn't getting from my relationship. I was enamored. I was hooked. I was addicted. And I didn't want to let him go for my boyfriend's sake. So I broke up with him to start a relationship with this new man. 

What I didn't know (or knew but ignored the signs) was he was fresh out of a 6-7 year stint in prison. He was married. His wife was pregnant. He was temperamental. And he was abusive. He was conniving and offered nothing other than his sexual skills in bed. He was an irrationally emotional person. He didn't like the fact that I was family oriented and that I had lots of friends, most whom were male. He thought because of that, I didn't love HIM the way I claimed I did. He tried to isolate me from everyone, stating that he was the only somebody I needed. He was very up and down. When things were good, they were great. When things were bad, they were terrifying horrible. Being with him made me miss my ex-boyfriend's kindness and patience.

After our daughter was born, I decided to give up on our relationship. I didn't want to go back to my ex-boyfriend but it did open my eyes to a lot of things. My selfishness. My naivete. Being unappreciative. But most importantly, my lack of real communication. If I wasn't happy, I should have expressed it in a way that either salvaged our relationship or at least ended as friends that just grew apart romantically. 

I left a man that might have been boring and "safe" but he treated me well. I didn't see that at that time because he was all I knew and I didn't appreciate him the way I should have. Would we have stayed together if my child's father never entered the picture? There is truly no telling. The person I am now, I would say no, but then again, the person I am now wouldn't be that person if it wasn't for THAT experience.

He never raised his hand to me. He bought me things to let me know I was on his mind. He wrote me letters. I met his family. We laughed together. My friends and family loved him. He never made me feel that I couldn't be myself. He never berated me for being myself. He never belittled me and made me feel that I had to tiptoe around him. Completely the opposite of what I left him for. 

My point is, the grass isn't always greener. I learned that the hard way. We allow ourselves to be unhappy because in some way, we're always searching for something better instead of just appreciating what we already have. Chances are, what we are looking for, we already have in our possession. We allow the "what ifs" in life to consume us and make us make rash decisions to appease the part that we feel is lacking in our lives. 

We could say, "If I could go back, I would change *insert situation*" but if we did, would we be where we are? Would we be able to problem solve and make better choices? In my situation, if I could go back and change being with my child's father, then I wouldn't have my child and I can't even begin imagining what life would be like without her in it.

Please go see "Temptation." It is definitely worth the money. If you're in a relationship, I truly believe that after watching this movie, it will make you appreciate the one you're with. 

"Temptation" by Constance Gilmore