This is a phrase I coined early in my adult life when I became a widow at age 30. After losing my husband and the father of my four year old, my life and dreams felt completely shattered. In that moment, I realized I did not want to wait on a person or a change in circumstances to make me happy again.
 
I felt a quiet reminder within me that said, you can build yourself a lovely life.
 
I did not need anything outside of myself to begin. So often, we wait for someone or something to change before we allow ourselves to feel happy. But no one else holds that power.
 
We are the ones who have the power to build a lovely life, starting today.