Life will bring you moments so beautiful they feel like a dream. Moments like falling in love, building a family, enjoying success, and it will also bring storms that can shake your very core. Through it all, there’s one thing you need to hold close, tighter than any love, title, or sweet promise; never let go of the person you are.

Your independence is more than a bank account or a good job It’s the courage to stand on your own feet, the quiet confidence that you can survive, even thrive, no matter what. Here’s how to protect it:

• Keep your passions alive. Protect the things that make you light up, they could be your art, your career, your dreams, whatever they are, don’t abandon them for anyone or anything.  Love, career, and others should add to your life, not replace it.
• Stay financially aware. Money is freedom. Know how to earn it, save it, and manage it. Don’t let anyone convince you that you don’t need to understand your own finances. Operating on survival mode will make you compromise your core values for the bare minimum. Give yourself the liberty to make the best decisions for yourself and get that bag!
• Protect your voice. Speak up for what you believe, even when it’s uncomfortable. Your thoughts and opinions are never “too much” and do not let anyone shut you down. Allow yourself say yes or no whenever you want without over-explaining yourself to anyone. Don’t let life steal your voice!
• Nurture your friendships. True friends remind you of who you are when life tries to rewrite your story. Keep them close. Be selective of the kind of friends you keep too, ensure you are surrounded by positive energy always, and trust your gut too.
• Remember who you were before love. The woman you are now, the one reading this, deserves to keep her sparkle, whether she’s single, married, divorced, or widowed. Falling in love is beautiful, and partnership can be a blessing. But never confuse love with losing yourself. The world needs the whole you.

Dear Pink woman, this is a call for you to stay true to yourself every single day and never let go of your independence. Stay free. Stay whole. Stay you.