“A mischievous, troublesome, or unruly person”

There are certain instances in life (for me, anyway) where it has been to my benefit to be fall under this definition. In general, I can most certainly be described as a hellion simply for being who I am.

I am ok with this.

My mother and her mother before her were trailblazers in their own way; my Grandma for never letting her dark skin keep her from being a business owner and my Ma, who never let society tell her what was the “right” or “wrong” definition of a family. As their descendant, I try to live up to their example by never allowing others to dictate how I live my life.

This includes how I practice my religion. Of course there are correspondences and certain rules to be followed, but how I practice and my choice to practice at all was a huge departure from what would make most of my family comfortable. My Ma and Grandma nay not have agreed with my choice of spirituality but they certainly wouldn’t begrudge me my choice. After all it would be disrespectful to their memory if I were to simply let sleeping dogs lie.

As one in a long line of hellions, who has given birth to who I am SURE will be another, I honor their memory by not simply accepting, forging my own path. I know it’s what they would have wanted.