A woman's character

I was once told that character is not the choices you make in the midst of tragedies or life changing moments, it is the day to day choices you make that make up who you really are. The choices you make when no one is there to watch you are what truly show the kind of character you comprise. Ever since hearing these words of wisdom I have tried to be the person I wanted to be when no one was looking more often than when people were around to watch me or judge my behavior.

I believe that the twenty-something years are monumental in growing your character and showing the person you will become. I am continually changing and becoming more and more like the woman I hope to be. I am learning from my mistakes and making better choices the following year, and taking advice and wisdom from so many valuable people around me each day. Some people who have helped me to see the kind of woman I want to be are as follows:

My sister is the kind of woman who does not take ‘no’ for an answer. She continually fights for what she wants and does whatever she needs to in order to reach her goals. She is one of the most driven and successful people I know for this reason. She will never wake up one morning and have the thought, ‘I could have tried harder,’ because she always goes above and beyond in her career.

My Mom is the kind of woman that is genuine in everything she does. She cares so much for other people and will do whatever she can to help others. She gives so much of herself to her clients, to her family, and to her friends and does so with a smile. Even in the midst of conflict she will never be fake or two-faced with her behavior. She wears her heart on her sleeve and so you always know what you will get with my Mom; a genuine demeanor that is rooted in a big heart.

My neighbor Sabrina is the kind of woman that always finds the beauty and the fun in each day. She and her husband are so perfectly paired because they both have such a silly side that will add so many years to their lives! They say laughter is the cure for all ailments, and boy does she know it. Even with the stress of having twins, she will find time to laugh or let loose in one way or another. I value this so much about her character because it’s so important to know how to let go and not take life too seriously. She has this balance down pat, and that’s such a huge reason as to why she is an excellent mother.

My good friend Brenda is the kind of woman who doesn’t have a dishonest bone in her body. If you ever want to know the truth about something you go and ask her, because she is anything but a liar. She always tells you exactly like it is, and this is my favorite thing about her. Honestly is such an important quality in a woman’s character and it makes it so easy to trust her. I know she will never lie to me so it makes it so easy for me to tell her anything and everything about my life.  The honesty and love she puts out into the world is a rare and precious gift that I choose to accept.

 Another good friend Keri is the kind of woman who’s loves to give. Her selfless character enables her giving heart to bleed into so many amazing good causes. I saw this kind of selfless giving when she chose to give monthly to my charity, the Dean Thomas Moinet Foundation, a year before we were even official. She believed in my cause, and wanted nothing more than to give towards it to help make it happen. That kind of giving heart radiates so much joy from her which is contagious to be around.

A woman whose character is made up of unshakable faith is my friend Melissa. She has had so many struggles in her life, both in the past and present, and she never seems to waver. She fights with Jesus by her side, unwavering in her dedication towards knowing Him better and bringing His kingdom to Earth. There have been so many times where I have talked to her and been so incredibly moved by her faith amidst her circumstances, and that kind of day to day fight makes up an incredible character.

My grandma, my Meme, is a woman who see’s beauty in everything. She refuses to overlook the small things, whether it is a child blowing bubbles on a playground or a rose beginning to bloom, she notices them all. I have been in the car so many times with her and she will gasp and say “Look at those marvelous flowers!” and I will just laugh at how much it truly moves her, when it is just plain flowers on the side of the highway. She will say prayers for a child she has never met that died near her home every time she passes the spot, and she will find immense joy in the assortment of food at a buffet. This kind of character, one that appreciates it all, is not one to be undermined or laughed at. The older I get, the more I recognize this to be a spectacular character trait.

I can only hope as I move forward in my twenties I can continue to learn from all of the amazing women in my life. I hope I can take pieces of their character and mold them into my own to one day be recognized for some of the same remarkable traits. Its women like these that are examples for the rest of us.