Lessons from Adversity

Feeling like a failure has taught me that failing is only temporary, but can be permanent if we let our minds imprison us. 

Anxiety has taught me not to belittle any hardship someone goes through no matter how small it seems to be.

Getting teased for being fat has taught me that mean words don't help anyone be a better version of themselves but contributes to the destruction of that person from the inside out.

Being poor has taught me that everything always works out in the end.

Poor health has taught me to be more in tuned to my body and that good health is truly priceless.

Being in stressful situations has taught me that mental health is above everything else.

Dealing with rude people has taught me that kindness is always a choice. 

Meeting a selfish person has taught me that selfishness is actually living in fear. 

Being judged has taught me that I do not truly know everything about a person and what they are going through.

Heartbreak has taught me that I didn't love myself enough and placed my happiness in another person's hands. 

Hard times have taught me that any moment or situation is all about perspective. 

Resentment has taught me that I was punishing myself all along for someone else's actions.

Frustration has taught me that I have let my ego mind take over my perspective on things far too many times by needing everyone or every situation to act out as how I expect them to be. 

Fear has taught me to be a safe space for everyone who comes to me. 

The lack of confidence has taught me that I didn't believe in myself enough. 

Internal turmoil has taught me to be the peace that everyone searches for. 

Paranoia has taught me that it is mostly my mind creating problems for myself. 

Not getting everything I want has taught me to cherish what I do have. 

Being on the receiving end of empty promises has taught me to fulfill all promises made or never make one. 

Anger has taught me that no one makes me angry if I don't allow it. 

Sadness has taught me that letting go with faith is always best.

Unpleasant situations have taught me that there is a higher purpose for every experience. 

Disappointment has taught me that not everyone will behave the way we want them too and that is ok. 

Trauma has taught me that I didn't have to hold on to it in order to have an identity. 

Most importantly, adversities have helped me learn that healing doesn't mean forgetting, it just means remembering something but no longer with the unhealthy emotions attached to it. 

Thank You

Thank you for your obsession with money so I can learn that money isn't everything.

Thank you for being materialistic so I realize that there is more beauty in intangible things.

Thank you for putting wealth above family so I know that doesn't go well in life.

Thank you for putting so much importance in a person's title and appearance, so that I know to look at a person's heart instead. 

Thank you for teaching me to pretend to be a different person to different people so that I know that I only want to be the real me all the time. 

Thank you for making me tell so many lies, so that I know I don't ever want to live a life full of deception. 

Thank you for the hard times so I can appreciate what I have now. 

Thank you for the trauma so I can learn to manage my thoughts.

Thank you for the selfishness so I know that my happiness is my own responsibility. 

Thank you for rarely being around, so I know how important it is to show up.

Thank you for missing every single milestone so I know how nothing is more important than just being present for the ones who love you.

Thank you for saying I love you and I miss you, but failing to make me believe it as a child, because as an adult, I realize that actions do speak louder than words. 

Thank you for believing that people only want to be around you when you are successful, so I know that I don't want to be surrounded by people like that. 

Thank you for making empty promises, so I know how much value a promise should hold.

Thank you for all the disappointment for it has taught me that nothing in life is certain.

Thank you for abusing your health, as it has taught me to cherish mine. 

Thank you for thinking we would be happier around a materially successful you, as I have realized that our loved ones are happy to be around us no matter who we are. 

Thank you for forever holding on to the belief that your happiness will come when you achieve this big thing, for it has taught me that happiness comes from within. 

Thank you for constantly putting yourself in stressful situations for the sake of money, so I can value peace before material success. 

Thank you for placing value in a person's physical appearance, so I learn to place value in a person's soul. 

Thank you for believing that people only love you with certain conditions, because that has taught me that true love is unconditional.

And most of all,

thank you for being exactly the way you are, because of that,

I AM EXACTLY THE WAY I AM SUPPOSED TO BE. 

Tears shed, wounds healing.