Today, like every day, I am a fitness freak. I eat right, I exercise, and people say the results show. But I'm still not happy. I still feel ashamed when beach pictures are put up on Facebook. I refuse to believe my girlfriend when she tells me I'm attractive. I'm so damn self-conscious. I think it's because they called me ugly back in middle school. It's been 9 years, but I still can't get over it. My inner struggle MMT.

Today my sister is the strong and beautiful. Seven years ago she was raped by a man she trusted. She is now gay. Many judge her for it, and it has not been easy for her. But the fact that she has become a beautiful, self confident person who always goes out of her way to help others despite all that she has been through, really makes me proud of her and MMT.

Today my mom received the results from her recent melanoma extraction. She is cancer free! The only reason this extremely aggressive cancer was caught early enough to be removed was because she had an annual dermatologist check-up due to skin cancer that was successfully removed ten years ago. Her doctor decided to remove the potentially cancerous skin "just to be safe." The fact that she is cancer free now because of cancer she had ten years ago MMT.

Today, it has been over a year since you have attempted contact with your son. Today, it has been over a year since he has asked about you. Today, we are a family of two doing so much better than I could ever have imagined our "family" of three could. Today, I do not hate you anymore. MMT

Today, I broke up with my boyfriend of 3 years. It wasn't as hard and hurtful as i thought, or maybe it hasn't hit me yet; but also for once, I feel like I did something for me. Even though I don't want to hurt him, and I'm more than thankful for the past 3 years, I can't help but feel like this is right, and that I'm going to be OK. Going from thinking I couldn't live without him to knowing I'm going to more than make it MMT.

Today, when one of my 8th grade students touched up her makeup in class, I told her she didn't need makeup to be beautiful. She just looked at me with sad eyes and said, "You should see me without makeup. It’s not pretty." I can't believe what society has done to the poor 13 year old. MMT

Today, I lay awake in bed as my love sleeps beside me. I stay awake because she will awaken soon to the night terrors as she does every night due to her PTSD. Next week will be the anniversery of when she witnessed her father commit suicide. His death brought us together but I suffer every day trying to help her heal. MMT

Today, all I can remember about my dad from my childhood is him screaming at me for various reasons. He would beat my sister and I from time to time. We never hugged unless he forced me to give him one. He has called me things like stupid and worthless. But he left for Afghanistan over a year ago and comes back tomorrow. Ever since he left he has texted and emailed me, "I love you" at least once a week. He seems like he truly misses us. I don't know what to expect tomorrow. MMT

Today, I'm standing at your grave crying. I'm crying because this month was your birthday and you would have been 21. You would have been at my graduation waiting to hug me, just as I was at yours. This month on the 19th was also your passing two years ago. If those people hadn't left you to die, our family would still be whole. But today, I forgive them. I know you were the most caring forgiving brother in the world and I want to be like you. Part of you still lives within me, and it MMT.

Today, I finally have a brother again. Between the drug use and drinking abuse of the past several years, it was like living with a ghost. But he's sober now, and it's like meeting a stranger and being told you know each other. I love him, but I keep wondering if it's ever too late for a second chance. The mixture of happiness and uncertainty in our new relationship MMT.

Today, my cousin is actually my daughter. I was raped two years ago, and I didn't know what to do when I found out I was pregnant as I'm in college and don't have the means to raise a kid. My cousins, about the same time, found out they couldn't have kids, and they officially adopted her at birth. It may be odd at times to know she's actually mine, and how she came to be, but they love her and all three of them are so happy now. MMT

Today, I received a letter from an old student of mine. She was always one of my favorites - brilliant with both analyzing and writing, yet also kind-natured. The letter thanked me for all the support I gave her in high school. Turns out, her father was abusive, both physically and emotionally. She said, had I not encouraged her to go to college and study English, she might very well be "dead," either by her father's hands or her own lack of self esteem. MMT

Today, after I confirmed that my wife was cheating on me, I walked out in the backyard in the pouring rain with my handgun. Crazy thoughts were spinning through my mind. I wanted to die. I walked down to the lake behind our house, and walked into the lake until the water was up to my waste. I held the gun to my chin, and then I burst into tears and threw the gun into the lake. I walked back up to our back porch, still crying, when a loud crack of thunder shook the ground and bolt of lightning struck the lake close to where I had been standing a minute prior. And suddenly I felt nothing but grateful to be alive. MMT

Today, as I missed her, I realized I shouldn't think of it as missing, but that it was a wonderful opportunity that I got to know her in the first place. And from that moment on, I couldn't help but smile when I thought of her. This change of heart (from when I used to frown at the thought of missing her) was wonderful and MMT.

Today, my best friend beat leukemia after a five year long battle. He was left with bone disease from the chemotherapy side affects - and I can’t help but wonder if he will beat that too; and I also wonder what he did to deserve this on top of his cancer. MMT

Today I'm looking forward to being cured of a long-lasting, painful condition with a simple operation. However, my sister has cancer and it's looking bad for her. I keep telling our mother not to worry about me, but she still does. 'You're both my girls!' she says. The health issues my family has gone through recently MMT.

Today, as I told you that I want nothing to do with you, while my heart was breaking and tears were streaming down my face, I realized that the best thing that came out of our 3 year affair was the fact that I know now that I don't need you to make me happy. I only need to know that I deserve better and that better has been here all along. Seeing my husbands' face as I came clean and told him that 'I loved him' made the heartache of letting you go bearable. MMT

Today at work I was complaining about how much money it was going to cost to get my car fixed, and how many difficult decisions I have to make before college this fall. Then my coworker told me about her husband going through chemotherapy and how expensive it was. My entire perspective shifted as she spoke, and I have never felt so blessed. My problems are not even problems in comparison. MMT

Today, my husband held my hand while we were driving to my parents house. He just reached over and grabbed it. It was the first time he had since I cheated on him six months ago. His simple gesture made me so happy I cried for an hour. I don't know if I will ever forgive myself, but feeling his forgiveness, and knowing he loves me so much as to look past all the pain I have caused him, MMT.

Today I was turned away from my volunteer job where I tutor English to asylum seekers, because the woman who ran the English department had seen me out on town with my beautiful 5 year old son. She immediately made her disapproval at my age very clear (I was 16 when he was born). Then she humiliated me in front of the 30 other tutors. I returned home in tears to find a handwritten note on the table saying, "I love you Mom." MMT