Michaela's introductory speech

I miss my child every day.   That isn't the hardest part of her dying.  The hardest part is missing the part of myself that went with her.

Excerpts from a speech Michaela gave in 2007

Hey, I'm Michaela. Not MiCHaela, not Michelle, not Michella, not Mitchell, Not Michael a, not Michaeluh, not chaela and I am a product of my beliefs. ....

I'm probably one of the most chill people you'll ever come across, until you're one of my good friends. I'm all about people doing whatever they want as long as its not hurting anyone but them. So hey, drugs, drinking, smoking cutting, bulimia, anorexia, suicide.... go for it. But as soon as it puts others in danger, it's not okay. If you're drinking and then get behind the wheel of a car I'm pissed. You're street racing your buddy down Tennessee, that's not cool. If you're going to be a dumbass, try to keep it to yourself. If you want to hurt yourself, by all means, do it, but as soon as you start beating your kid or your wife, or your boyfriend, or your dog, you've become a monster.

That's how I feel about strangers and acquaintances...like I said; I'm chill until you get close to me. Then I'll be your best friend and your worst enemy. You do drugs, drink underage, cut, don't eat...keep it away from me, and expect me to give you shit about it but know that I love you to death. I take care of people I love. It's taxing. I tend to feel what people are feeling. My empathy and my compassion manifest itself physically and it's absolutely exhausting.

And I'm a big fan of 2nd, 3rd, 17th chances.  I'm forgiving. Very. But I'm not forgiving because it's what I've been taught or what I believe in, I just am, and I can't really figure out why because I've been f***ed over a good few times. ....

I'm about the simple pleasures in life. I'm about living your life and letting others live theirs.
I'm about a pair of jeans that hugs your ass just right, not has the most expensive name on them.
I'm about finding my own way to make an impact. I'm about loving with everything I have in me.
I'm about looking past the front our world puts up and finding beauty where others won't dare to look.
I'm about searching my soul to set my priorities in the right order.
I'm all about innocent fun.
I'm about strong opinions and good conversation.
I'm about breaking the mold and being open about it.
I'm about being confident enough to let go of boundaries and outside static.
I'm about talking about differences not trying to change them.

I'm about life.

I'm about the good stuff.