The Only One on the Fourteenth

My birthday is in ten days (Valentine's Day) and I am looking forward to having a few days off from work and having fun with Brian.

When I was in elementary school, I had a hard time fitting in. I never wanted to believe it was because I was black but girls I played with would remind me of that fact periodically. Occasionally, I'd get the "I can't play with you anymore because you're black." So I'd go about my business for a couple of days until the girl who said it would start playing with me again. I just wanted things to remain normal. (Shoot! If someone said that to me now. I'd be like "Peace out! Go suck a hole!")

I was teased a lot and looking back, even though it made me sad, there was a level of toughness that I acquired from those incidents. The people close to me may define me as sensitive but I like to believe that these days on the surface, I am the type of person who can make witty comebacks if put in a teasing situation again. I only share my deepest thoughts and vulnerabilities with those that are close. For more info, read every Aquarius Sun Sign description, Lmao!

Anyhow, so back to elementary school and fitting in...the principal gave every kid a pencil for their birthday. Our principals were something like mini-Presidents--you only saw them every once in a blue moon and when you did, you treated them with the utmost respect and awe. For him to come to your classroom and acknowledge your birthday was a HUGE deal. The other kids in class would be in shock and that child had a moment in the spotlight.

On my birthday, I knew he was coming but I didn't know when. I was fiddling around with something in my desk and suddenly he appeared out of smoke (Not really, but from a kid's point of view, it seemed like it). He walked up to my desk and handed me a pink pencil. I was so proud with joy. He said, "Happy Birthday Shaharoh. You're the only one in the entire school that I'm visiting today." All of the kids around me watched intently and I felt so special inside.

What I've learned is that even though every child is special, sometimes it's the little, big moments that give them that extra push and build confidence. In the middle of a crowd, there's always a lonely, lost one that needs a hug, a kiss or some words of encouragement. Even though I was reminded that I was different than the other kids, sometimes being different wasn't such a bad thing.

**My mom posted this as her cover photo on her Facebook page - AWWW***