"I can't remember a single time [my parents] ever told me not to do something I wanted to do." - Sally Ride

Update:

When I started flight school, I promised my mother that I would continue my education afterwards by getting my bachelors degree. Yesterday I found out I was accepted to the University that I applied to!!! I am so excited!!!

Today, I had the opportunity to wash a Merlin (some sort of big, pretty airplane) with some friends, the pilot and a friend who is a 16 years old and a cadet in CAP. This cadets wants to fly planes and eventually helicopters so she is getting a lot of experience just by being exposed to it all. I sat there watching the pilot explain things and answer questions and I am just amazed at the people in this world that want others to succeed. I'm not the only one!!! It's a relief to know that there are people that are willing to help you reach your dream . Yes, sometimes you're going to find the mean people who are so self-absorbed they can't help other. But know that there ARE people out there that want you to live your dream. If it wasn't for these people...we wouldn't get anywhere.

Sally Ride, the first US female to go into space, said "I can't remember a single time [my parents] ever told me not to do something I wanted to do." This obviously altered the way she lived her life. Just because someone told her she could. Two little words "you can!" make the difference to someone.

I want people to believe it. Write a stick-it note to yourself and leave it on your bathroom mirror. "I CAN!"

Don't be stingy with it. Pass it on. Tell someone else that "They Can!"

My mom use to take me to airshows and point to fighter jets and say "You could do that! You could fly that!" This made such a difference for me.

Tell a child "They Can!"... Recently my grandfather was in the hospital and all of my family was there and I was watching my cousin's daughters. One of the Med-Evac helicopters landed on the heliport on the hospital and we had a birds eye view of it. I noticed that the oldest girl was particularly interested in it so I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. She said she didn't know. So I said, "You know you could fly helicopters if you wanted." Her response was "No I couldn't silly! Only boys can fly!" About that time the female pilot stepped out of the whirly bird and the little girl's eyes lit up. It was a magical thing to watch.

So the lesson of the day (haha) is to encourage someone else and encourage yourself!!!

"I can't remember a single time [my parents] ever told me not to do something I wanted to do." - Sally Ride

First US Female In Space