Introspections

Someone once said, "You are where you were when." In looking back over my life, I can see how true this is. The things I have experienced throughout my life have shaped me into the person I am.

Losing my father, who was my whole world, when I was an impressionable 9 year old taught me pain and loss.

Seeing my once-dependent mother take control and pull everything together after my father's death taught me courage and how to do what's necessary to take care of those I love.

Having my precious, 10-month-old daughter undergo major surgery to remove a kidney, then hearing the doctor say she had a disease with a high mortality rate, taught me the value of prayer.

Being a military wife taught me how important family is, to stand on my own and how to be flexible. From this I also learned that 'home' is truly where the heart is.

Travelling to foreign countries broadened my mind and reminded me to give thanks for the freedoms I took for granted.

Having teenagers showed me there are things much worse than your child wanting to pierce their ear or get a tattoo and I developed patience and tolerance (though probably not as quickly as my teenagers wish I had).

Suffering a betrayal none should ever have to experience taught me about distrust, emotional abandonment and abuse.

Divorce taught me about loneliness, as well as how to persevere in the face of adversity.

Losing my best friend in the prime of life taught me how precious our friends are and that we shouldn't pass up any opportunity to tell them how we feel.

Being owned by pets taught me unconditional love and selflessness.

Grandchildren...ah...the things grandchildren teach us! Love. Laughter. A renewal of hope.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the drift of what I'm saying. Good or bad, I'm thankful for the experiences in my life, for they have made me the person I am today...strong, independent, self-sufficient, loving, open-minded, spiritual, understanding, caring, and so much more. I truly am a product of where I was when.

There is an invaluable lesson tucked in the middle of these life experiences. We can either be victims or we can be survivors. The choice is ours to make. I choose to be a survivor.

So, I pose these questions...

How have the experiences in your life shaped you? Have you learned from them or have you chosen to become a victim? The choice is yours.