By Teresa Cavaliere
West Palm Beach, FL, USA

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It's been an emotional month. I don't know how my daughter stands so tall during times like this. It’s so difficult to see her hurting over someone's opinion or decision, or just the mere fact of someone being vindictive towards her. Nevertheless, it's how tall she stands through one of the most difficult times of her life that makes me so proud of her. I must admit proud or not, it's painful to watch your child hurting. Generally, I walk through life assuming that people think like me. Of course, you never really know for sure what someone else will do. Once in a while, however, you get that slap of reality that there really are vindictive people who feel no remorse in lashing out at you, and for no apparent reason. To think that adults can behave cruelly toward a dedicated, hard-working teenager just boggles my mind. 

My daughter and I talked through the whole incident that occurred and took action. We decided not to give the cruel people any more power, or the privilege to feel that they have destroyed her dreams. If anything, the incident fueled her desire to do better! She has moved to her Plan B. My daughter is brave and resilient, and faithful to what she knows to be true. With that said, she decided not to waste her time wallowing in the negative energy and to WALK AWAY!! She is zigging, while they zag.

That's just what she did, and almost immediately other doors opened for her. Looking back is not an option once you have done all you can. Instead, believing that God, your higher power, destiny, call it what you will, has a plan and maybe the plan was to zig, while everyone else is zagging. We think we are on the road we should be on until life throws us a curve. That’s the universe telling us to take notice. You either stay put and complain, or you move onto a new path and discover other abilities, talents or possibilities you may have lost track of until now. Use it for the good and change the negativity attached to the path you were on. If it’s meant to be that you should go back onto the path you left, it will happen.

Of course, changing your path does not absolve the cruel behavior of others, but it means you have taken the high road and multiplied your chances of success tenfold. My children have learned at a young age that one person’s destructive opinion has no power over their strength or their belief in themselves. I am a proud parent!

As for us, we're going to Zig or Zag at whatever life throws at us!

All opinions expressed by Teresa Cavaliere are solely her own and do not reflect the opinions of Stay Thirsty Media, Inc.