Complicated, or something like that.

After each bumpy road in life there is a time of reflection. A time to look back on the past and revisit what worked, what didn't and what your goals for the future are.

Life in general can be complicated and sometimes staying optimistic is the only way to take the punches.

As a little girl I was ridiculously accident prone, broken limbs, bruised body, spent a lot of time hauling my parents to the ER for splints and casts and oxygen masks.

As a teenager I was bad, always doing the absolute opposite of what my parents "told" me I should. It was rebellion, "Who were they to tell me what to do" and "They don't know anything." Thank goodness this period of my life was wrapped up in a couple years.

As a young adult I spent most of my years travelling. I felt lost and kept searching for where I belonged in this scary negative world. In the meantime, I went on many adventures; searching the beauty of the Mediterranean, the romance of Paris, the history of Rome, the night-life of Melbourne. All of these places were significant in my past and permanent pictures of scenery are burnt into my Retina.

All of those "wordly" places were significant, but not as significant as Red Deer, AB. This little city located between Calgary and Edmonton with a population of 80,000 has had the most significant positive changes in my life. Who would have thought that this small oil city located in Canada would turn my world around, change it and in the meantime change me.

I found myself in this city, I fell in love in this city and I had my first born in this city. This city has helped shape me into the person I wanted to be for so long, the person I searched the world for.

Now, I look to positive changes and fulfilling life events in the future that will continue to shape the Melonie I have grown to love.

I'm a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister. I'm stubborn, strong, passionate, emotional, hard working. I'm a leader, a philanthropist, and I want to change the world. I sometimes have foot-in-mouth syndrome and I try to live without regret.

Not everyone I meet is going to love me, But for the first time in my life...I'm Fine with that.