It’s all about the lessons we learn along the way that get us to where we are now.
Do you acknowledge those lessons? Or are you more preoccupied with beating yourself up over an imperfect journey. Do you embrace the shame of your mistakes more than the lessons that have come from them?
I often joke about having a Phd from the School of Hard Knocks. While technically there is no university handing out diplomas for such a thing, the truth is, my education in hard knocks has been in many ways as valuable as a degree from one of our most esteemed schools.
I mean no disrespect to those who have toiled and learned in a more traditional institution. I have the utmost respect for education of all kinds. It’s just that the school I have spent the most time enrolled in is The School of Life.
And I am grateful.
The trials, tribulations and hard knock lessons I have learned along the path have shaped and molded me into the person I am today. There are many “Classes” I took part in on the journey that I am not proud of, and would hardly encourage anyone to follow in my footsteps, yet despite the poor choices I made, I carry well—earned bits of enlightenment and understanding that have lit my path.
I have had a handful of people in my lifetime who have said things like, “You should be ashamed of yourself.” Or….”What were you thinking, only a crazy person would pull a stunt like that!” or…”People like you never change” or one of my personal favorites, “Nothing good can come out of a person like you.”
Oh really?
I beg to differ.
The truth is that because of the hard path I have walked, I have a greater understanding and empathy toward others who have stumbled along the way. I offer grace and the encouragement that things CAN change, that you do have the power to wake up one day and rewrite the mental scripts that control your actions. I can show by example that forgiveness and letting go of past hurts, obstacles and excuses can be powerful tools that propel us onward to success.
I can love. Because once I lived through the ravages of hatred and began to understand that by building up the walls of hating yourself or others, you only invite agony and misery into your life. Ironically, the exact two things you were trying to protect yourself from all along.
I can gently help others to learn to let go and to learn to accept love and abundance into their lives.
I can help them to sort through the rubble of their past painful experiences and find the gems of truth and knowledge that are there to guide them.
Mostly, I can help them to understand that what they have experienced, no matter what the original reason, is a gift of learning and light to guide them in the journey that we call life.
If you have never been broke, messed up, despondent, hurt, picked on, injured, left out, frightened, angry, hateful, mean, lost, and at the point of giving up, can you really truly understand how wonderfully amazing and miraculous it is to experience abundance, optimism, happiness, tender loving care, friendship, good health, courage, love, kindness, hope and faith?
You might be able to. I’m not really sure. I don’t know life to be any other way than the experiences I have been through.
I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on it. But I will share mine here, first.
I think that the darkness we journey through lights our path to appreciate the light and goodness all around us. IF— we are willing to face the darkness, let go of the shame, look it square in the eye and say, “Thank you for the journey. I have learned well.”
After all, your past has gotten you to where you are today. What have you learned along the way?
