In the Beginning

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You don't really know what you have and what you don't have when you come to planet Earth. As a child, you think that everyone is exactly the same as you. You don't realize that you are different and not a part of the normal awareness which resides in many sentient beings. You are born aware of your gifts, but without understanding that anything is unusual because they are so natural and free flowing.

As a young child, I would have "dreams" that would always come true later on. I would dream about a happening, but I wouldn't tell my family about it until after the event actually took place. Because I waited until after the fact to tell my parents about my dream, they would just smile, laugh at me and shake their heads as they went along with their day. I never knew I was different from other people by being born with gifts. My parents' non-reactive responses were exactly what I needed to allow me to keep my self-confidence and not turn the dreams and visions away.

Even as a young child, complete strangers would come up to me and tell me that I was so gifted. I had no idea what they meant by this. In fact, these people usually scared me. Between the ages of six and 10, I had no idea what they meant by the word "gifted." One day after Mass, an older lady who was sitting on the complete opposite side of the church, came over to tell me how gifted I was. All I could think of was "Get this crazy lady away from me!" I couldn't believe this type of person was even going to church. Again, I had no idea what having gifts meant, and it wasn't something I heard my parents talk about.

I was four years old when one of the most traumatic events of my life happened. I remember it very well because it was time to go to preschool. This is usually an exciting time in a child's life; a major milestone proving we are growing and maturing. For me, this happy excitement became a cruel reality as I began to realize that not all people are kind and loving! Preschool was a completely foreign environment because this was the first time I experienced children who were unkind to each other. I cried each day my mom dropped me off at school. This was not a place I wanted to be.

Kindergarten was better because I had a really kind teacher, but the cruel reality hit again in first grade when I entered parochial school. I was the girl who was not included in the already formed clique because I had attended a different kindergarten than all the other girls. They excluded me from everything and made fun of me right to my face. I hated being bullied, so I decided I would not be going back to school ever again. I put my plan into action by telling my mom I was sick. But she, like many other moms, said the only way I would be staying home from school was if I had a fever or I was vomiting. So I had to go to school.

Throughout my entire grade school years, I never fit in with most of the girls my age. My experiences with them left me wondering how people, even those who considered themselves friends, could be so horrendously mean to one another and stab each other in the back. I continued to witness these acts throughout my six years of elementary school. I simply could not make sense of this cruel behavior between human beings. I did know this: I could not allow their behavior to change me. I purposed in my heart and soul to be loving and kind no matter what. I chose and set my intention to never be mean, treat anyone badly, and certainly not to ever bully anyone. I had a deep down knowing inside of me that the grade school girls were simply not living God like. No matter how many times I was hurt by their actions, I never changed my loving ways. I knew in my soul that I could never allow myself to become mean like them, and I needed to always treat people better than I would want to be treated.

When I was about eight or nine years old, I always knew when someone in our circle of family or friends was going to die. I really had no idea that other people in the world didn't share in this "knowing." I wasn't sure how I knew, but I never doubted that it was certain to happen. After our loved one would transition from the earth, it was very easy to tell my parents, "I already dreamt that." My fabulous parents would look at me, laugh and say, "Okay." My parents never yelled at me, told me I was lying, or that there is no way I could possibly have known. They simply took my news with a grain of salt and continued on with their tasks at hand. I attribute their reactions to being the helpful force that kept me feeling safe and secure in sharing the knowledge I was given. That comfort took me to a new level of telling my parents who would die next, before it happened. They would listen to me, but this time there were no little laughs. They would not react at all. That made me feel really sad, and I did not want these visions anymore. I began to think I had been cursed. I no longer wanted to know when someone was going to die, let alone who it was. The guilt of not being able to change the outcome was unbearable. It took me some time to realize that my visions were not responsible for the happenings, and that what I was being shown was meant to be. I learned that through receiving these messages, I had the opportunity to say goodbye to my loved ones before they crossed over. That is a true gift!

Why I was able to keep growing my gifts

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My parents seemed to have an incredible knack for being great judges of character. I remember hearing my parents' discussions regarding new people they would meet. They would talk with each other about the way the person caused them to feel, and then talk with my siblings and me about it. They described this intuition as having a "gut feeling," and they were always right!

I, too, have always been able to tell if the energy coming from someone I first meet is loving or fear based. Once again, I assumed everyone could feel the "vibes" coming from others, so I wasn't aware that this might be another something special that resided within me. I never once thought it strange to be open to this intuition, or discernment as some may call it. To me it was quite simply "common sense." Remaining open to this intuitive sense is another gift I am forever grateful to my parents for because it has definitely served me as a very valuable tool in my lifetime. They also taught me the value of being open to feelings and following natural instincts while setting aside all bias and judgments.

My dad is one of the most amazing, intelligent and funny men I know. He is amazing because his family is his number one priority! He and my mom had four daughters, and they taught us the importance of family and how to work as a team. My dad made it very clear that there were three very crucial things he expected from each of us: graduate from college, go to church, and vote.

Dinnertime was a very important ritual in our home. It was a time for all of us to connect, reflect on our day together, and especially to laugh. Life without humor is no kind of life at all.

A sweet, funny story I will always remember about my dad, took place at a McDonald's restaurant. Our family was waiting in line behind a grandmother and her grandson. The grandmother was counting her change in order to pay for their meal. My dad, in his quick wit and generosity, handed her a twenty dollar bill and softened the awkwardness by telling her he had won the lottery. My dad never really had much...