When I was 18 and just starting in real estate, I thought every opportunity that came my way was a blessing.

I was eager, grateful, and willing to learn from anyone who seemed to know more than me. But I learned, painfully that not everyone who looks successful has pure intentions.

Some people will recognize your light before you even see it in yourself and they’ll try to use it. Some advice isn’t meant to guide you, it’s meant to mold you into what benefits them. And sometimes, what feels like a door opening is really just a test of how much you’ll compromise before you choose yourself.

I gave my trust to the wrong people, thinking that made me loyal. But all it did was drain me, until I realized that loyalty means nothing when it costs you your peace.

I used to think trusting people made me kind. Now I know trusting the right people makes you wise.

You can’t take direction from people who aren’t walking the path you want to walk. You can’t build your dream around someone else’s limits.

Be careful who you look up to. Some people don’t want to see you rise, they just want to make sure you never rise above them.

Gifted Angels is for the ones who learned that lesson the hard way. For the ones who gave their all, lost themselves for a while, and are finally finding their way back, stronger, wiser, untouchable.

You’re not naive for believing in people. You just had a pure heart in a world that didn’t know how to handle it. Now you move different. Now you lead with clarity, not approval.

Now you protect your peace like it’s your purpose, because it is.

And the ones who once underestimated you? They’ll soon realize they were never meant to be your teachers, only your lessons.