Growing up, you're told to apologize for a lot. Not sharing. Not doing what you are told. Doing things your way. Disagreeing with others. Fighting. And as a teenager, you probably apologized for the same things.

I wish someone would've told us that "sorry" wasn't going to fix everything.

Stop saying sorry for ending a toxic relationship.

Stop saying sorry for being too loud.

Stop saying sorry for listening to your favorite music.

Stop saying sorry for getting your point across.

Stop saying sorry for following your dreams.

Stop saying sorry for saying, "No."

Stop saying sorry for loving someone.

Stop saying sorry for being confident.

Stop saying sorry for arguing.

Stop saying sorry for your religion.

Stop saying sorry for being honest.

Stop saying sorry for standing your ground.

Stop saying sorry for the way you dress, the way you look or the way you like to wear your hair.

Stop saying sorry just because they're mad your opinion isn't theirs.

Stop saying sorry for being someone you are not.

Saying "sorry" won't make you feel better. Saying "sorry" won't make someone stay in your life. "Sorry" won't fix the way someone treats you. Do not let anyone tell you that everything is your fault. Do not let someone else's opinion affect yours. Do not let someone else's emotions change your life.

I grew up saying "sorry" for everything and I've had to learn the hard way that not everything is my fault. I should not have said "sorry" for standing up for myself. I shouldn't have said "sorry" for being who I really am. I should not have said that I was sorry for my own opinions and my own thoughts.

I should have stood firm in my beliefs. Instead of shutting my mouth, I should've screamed to the world how I really felt. I should not have ever been silent. I should not have let things go. I should not have let people talk to me like I wasn't good enough.

My voice matters. My thoughts make me who I am. What am I if I agree with everyone? A follower? A carbon copy of everyone I've ever spoken to?

I used to be someone else. I used to be scared of being alone. Afraid to have high standards. I was pretending to be someone who kept their mouth shut to keep from causing a fuss. I was last on the priority list.

What am I? Who am I now that I know I'm not at fault? I'm a girl with a very loud voice. I'm a mind full of arguments and ideas just waiting to be applied to any problem. I'm a woman who loves God. I'm an artist and a shower singer. I'm a never ending discussion about anything on my mind. This is what I am now.

"This may offend some people, you know that?"

Yes, and I'm not sorry.