Skip to content

Always stay true to who you are, deep down inside. It sounds easy, but there are those around you who will try to change who you are and what you stand for. It cannot be done and moreover, it should not be done.

Everyone has dreams. Some of your dreams will come true. Some dreams will come true even bigger and better than you could have ever imagined. Some dreams will be realized right away and other dreams will come true later on in your life. Some dreams may never come true – but that should not ever stop you from dreaming.

I have long taught that certain visions are placed within our hearts…in other words, if you weren’t meant to dream it, the vision wouldn’t be in your heart to begin with. Whatever the dream, whatever the timeline, let NO ONE snatch or compromise your dreams. Don’t let anyone else tell you what you can and cannot do or should and should not dream. Your dreams can become your destiny and no one has the right to interfere with that.

Everyone makes mistakes. Forgive yourself when you make mistakes and if you have hurt someone else in the process, make amends quickly. Most importantly, learn from your mistakes and whenever possible, learn from other people’s mistakes too.

Your past has helped to shape the person that you are…but unless you allow it, you are not defined by your past. Every single day is a clean slate full of possibilities – take advantage of it.

People will have opinions about you and they may not always be positive. As long as you are not hurting yourself or anyone around you, those opinions (and the negative people connected to those opinions) are inconsequential.

Remember that the definition of courage is, “being afraid and doing it anyway”. There is nothing wrong with being afraid; however, to get what you want in life, you must also choose to be courageous and step out in the faith that you have in yourself.

You have more strength than you realize. And when the times come that you don’t feel especially strong, it is not a sign of weakness to seek help.

The true key to success is learning from those who already are where you want to be in every respect. Don’t ever lose your desire to learn because as long as you remain teachable, you will have success; no matter what path you choose.

When your time on Earth is finished, let your legacy be one of love, generosity of spirit and kindness of heart. Be the person who reached out a helping hand to ease another’s way, wipe away tears and create laughter where there was once darkness.

Avatar photo

Carole Brody Fleet is the award-winning author of Happily EVEN After: A Guide to Getting Through (and Beyond!) the Grief of Widowhood (Viva Editions) and the national bestselling and critically acclaimed, Widows Wear Stilettos... (New Horizon Press); as well as the author and executive producer of the bestselling CD, Widows Wear Stilettos: What Now?. She is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Widows Wear Stilettos, Inc. and the popular website, WidowsWearStilettos.com, helping the widowed of all ages find support and education for themselves and for their children.

Widely recognized and highly regarded as a leader in the areas of grief and loss recovery, Ms. Fleet has appeared on such shows as "Good Morning America", "The CBS 2 Evening News" and many other regional and local programs around the country. Ms. Fleet regularly appears as a guest expert on numerous radio programs nationally and internationally and has been featured in publications such as Women's World Magazine, More Magazine, Shape Magazine, Psychology Today Magazine, USA Today and hundreds of newspapers, magazines and websites both nationally and internationally.

Ms. Fleet addresses a wide variety of topics; including, but not limited to loss and post-loss issues; as well as matters relating to financial transition after loss or divorce; raising children who have lost a parent; re-entering the world of dating and love; fashion, beauty, diet and exercise and most importantly, making a return to a fulfilling and abundant life after the loss of a spouse; as well as after any kind of loss, tragedy, challenge or life difficulty. 

For more information, please visit widowswearstilettos.com

This Post Has 3 Comments

    1. This is one of the very best commentaries that I have read in a long time.
      My husband transitioned in Sept. after 50 years of marriage. I am alone for the first time in my life and discovering a whole new way of living. Will be reading Carole’s book ASAP.

  1. Carole – simple yet not always easy ways to implement a more understanding, happy, and successful way of living. This message is greatly needed in this time period where there is so much angst, feelings of hopelessness, and trying to navigate a whole new paradigm of societal restrictions. Thanks for these reminders and encouragement to do what is right for yourself and others.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *