I spend a lot of time asking myself, “What if.” Not in the sense of, “what if I had said this?” or, “Why didn’t I do that?” More in the realm of, “What if I go back to law school?” or, “I wonder what kind of a book I should write?”

It is all my mom’s fault I ask for the moon.

As a child, I was never once told that an idea I had was ridiculous. I did all manner of crazy things that girls didn’t normally do. Never did she say, “Emily, girls aren’t supposed to do that!” Instead, I was given the head way to compete, encouraged to take math and science classes, take on as much as I could handle, and push the limits of what a girl in small town mid-America should consider.

In sixth grade I carried around the brochures for West Point (although I didn’t apply). In high school I scored an interview with Malcolm X’s youngest sister for my school paper right around the time of Spike Lee’s movie release. At 21 I got fed up with not finding a job and joined the Army when it wasn’t politically sound for me to do so.

Never once did she tell me anything other than, “I know you will be good at it!”

Being who I am now, I look back at the patterns in my life, my accomplishments and my failures. I am grateful for those who have helped pull me up by my boot straps and set me back down that path of accomplishment and happiness. Because, unfortunately, there were times when my mother’s encouragement wasn’t enough. It took Patrick years to undo the damage a man I once loved, did to my soul. This man laughed at me when I said I wanted to author a book someday. Cuttingly told me that I never finish anything. Patrick believes just the opposite.

My mother is still my biggest supporter. When I tell her that there is something incredibly huge that I am supposed to do with my life, she simply smiles and says, “Yes, Emily. I know that.”

I now have the self confidence to cast aside those who question, and those who doubt, when necessary. I now know what it is to be the one doing the pulling on the boot straps of those I love, respect and admire. I know what it is like to tell them that I believe in them (k&b).

“Big dreams are a powerful, motivating force. One of the traits of a leader is the ability to dream about what could be.” Jim Ziemer, president/CEO, Harley-Davidson

Although I may not follow through with all of my crazy ideas, or dreams, I will still have them. I will still talk about them. Because, in the end, if I accomplish just a few, I will have accomplished a lot.