One year ago none of us had any idea who Susan Boyle was. On Monday April 13, 2009 many of us knew but many (such as me) did not. But it was on Monday April 13th of 2009 that I became enraptured with her and have been an ardent supporter for this entire year.

Susan represents so much of what we are all looking for, searching for, hoping for. But she took a chance, she stepped up to the plate - for her mother - and risked her feelings and risked being made fun of in front of lots of people. But she took a deep breath, walked out on the stage and made history in those few short minutes.

What great lessons we’ve learned in this year - most of all to never judge  a book by its cover - at any point since she has been judged so much both before and after she opened her mouth and stunned the world.

Let’s just let people be who they are as long as they are not hurting others. Let’s encourage them, not ridicule them - we never know what’s underneath that outer mantle - it might be a fragile flower and our ridicule could be what sends them over the edge. We do not want to be responsible for that, do we?

Thank you Susan for making my life so much happier, so much more inspired, and so much fuller with your phenomenal voice for the past year. I wish you the best of success forever!

Keep on going, girl!
Terrie