In today’s world, labels are used to define us, to group us, and too often, to segregate us. We are categorized by race, gender, occupation, status, beliefs—each label an attempt to place us into neatly organized boxes. But what if we saw beyond these labels? What if we looked at another and saw their heart? What if we recognized the “I am” in each other, understanding that every journey is paved with both triumph and tribulation?

We are more alike than we are different. The roads we have traveled may have had different signposts, but they all lead through love, loss, joy, and struggle. If we long for someone else’s successes, we must also be willing to embrace the pain and heartache that built the foundation beneath them. When we look beyond the surface, we discover the commonalities that bind us together as human beings. And it is in these commonalities that we have the power to create a better world—one where understanding and unity replace division and isolation. 🤝

The original version of this was written back in 2007 – here it is updated to reflect a more inclusive picture. I am, and I remember.

“Who am I?” you ask.

✨ I am ✨

💖 I am every woman you’ve ever met:

😢 The lost child crying for her mother/father on the street corner.

👗 The daughter preparing for her first date—excited yet filled with uncertainty.

🤐The child torn between telling and keeping silent, the repercussions and the self-mortification.

✏️The student feverishly taking notes, determined to absorb every bit of knowledge you have to offer.

😉 The flirt at the nightclub you visited last Friday night.

🎭 The leading lady in your favorite Broadway or television show who appears to have it all together—until you remember it’s just an illusion.

💑 The wife striving for the perfect relationship with her husband—constantly seeking to improve it while wondering what her friends would think if they only knew.

💞The mother who wants the best for her children, dreaming of a better world for them, holding her breath when it’s time for the draft, when her daughter’s heart is broken, or when some tragedy befalls them.

🏆 The coach who believes in you—just looking for a way to help you believe in yourself.

💪 The survivor who embraces her strength, finding resilience in the face of adversity.

🔄The divorcée who went through life with eyes wide shut to what was right in front of her.

🎖️The former Marine who learned the meaning of self-discipline, determination, and duty.

💼 The businesswoman who has discovered the power of clarity and intent in building success.

👫 The partner who presents a united front to the world—even when doubts linger in her own mind.

🍎 The teacher who has been blessed to learn far more than she has ever taught.

🙏 The seeker searching for a more honest platform, a higher truth, a more Godly way of being.

🌍 The dreamer who envisions a gentler, kinder world for everyone.

❤️‍🩹 The caregiver who grows weary—sometimes feeling guilty for that weariness as the days pass.

🎤 The speaker who longs to share joy and possibility.

🛤️ The guide who desires to illuminate the stumbling blocks and pitfalls along life’s mountain trail so others may experience even more of the beauty along their journey to the top.

✨ I am you. ✨

We are forever bound in this life by our shared desire to be everything we can—for ourselves and for those around us. When we remove the labels, when we truly see each other, we find that the thread that connects us is far stronger than anything that separates us.

Together, we have the power to look for the commonalities, to lift each other up, and to create a world that values love, growth, and unity above all else. Let us choose to see the heart, to recognize the “I am” in one another, and to walk forward together in compassion and understanding.