we are, yes i said it, we are...

last night, i was able to partake in one of the best concerts i have been to in my entire life. JAY-Z! aside from the amazing performance on stage, jay-z's life is a site to behold. this man is a multi-millionaire, entrepreneur, and pretty much the face of hip hop to the mainstream. everyone from oprah to the president admire this man, so when he has something to say, most of us should probably pay attention and try to get the message.

the CLEAR message to me last night, was to follow your dreams no matter what. ignore the haters and do what you believe in. i seem to have these frequent episodes, where my confidence gets shaken. and up until this morning, it never really registered who my haters were. haters are not just the people who get in the way or tell you that you are crazy for what you are thinking. haters are the people who do NOT believe in you. haters are those friends and family members who try to talk you out of what you are trying to do. what makes them different? friends and family are the people who are SUPPOSED to believe in you. friends and family are the ones who are supposed to stick with you through thick and thin. friends and family are the ones who have the biggest influence in your life. who cares if john or jane doe says that you can't do it. when your best friend or your mom or dad or sibling says you can't do it, that is the opinion that sticks. that is the opinion that is going to sit in your head and slowly destroy your self-confidence.

so yes, these people are the most important people in your life, but you also must realize that these people can also be haters. haters aren't just strangers sharing their opinion. haters are also people who think that they are helping you by giving you advice, when in reality, they are right there with their foot on your back holding you down.