Tami's Blog

Whoever coined the phrase “what doesn’t break you makes you stronger,” was having a premonition about my life.  The hurt and subsequent healing I’ve experienced over the past year and a half catalyzed a new life philosophy.

In October 2010 I abruptly experienced a life altering change.  The jolt of the loss was mentally devastating.  Within in a few days the toll it took on my physical well being was as notable as the emotional wrath.   At about the two week mark I looked in the mirror and had a serious conversation with myself.  I acknowledged that if I didn’t find the strength to fight for me – this hurt would break me.  At that point I began a slow painful path to making sweet, pink, lemonade.

Today I am physically, emotionally and spiritually stronger than I have been in years.  I still struggle with the grief some days.  I’ve come to realize however, that while we can’t stop loss and hurt from happening, we can choose how they affect our character.  Self-healing and achieving personal success are the best ways to move forward.

Refuse to be defined by life’s “downs.”  Remember that this moment really is just this moment, and “it too shall pass.”  In the mean time, it sounds cliché I know, but take those lemons that threaten to break you and turn them into lemonade.  And don’t stop there; share the recipe.

The life lesson I gained from my experience is one I hope will benefit others.  I learned there are simply times in each of our lives when it is not only appropriate, but imperative that we become the center of our own attention.

Tami

A wise friend once told me to under promise and over deliver. I have always believed that being true to my word is a measure of character. People who use the words “I promise” too frequently or who don’t follow through on personal commitments discredit themselves. I’ve always considered my word to be a priceless form of currency. That’s not to say I’m without sin – that I have never betrayed a trust or disappointed a person to whom I have made a promise or commitment. I have seldom, however, in my adult life, knowingly or intentionally breached one of these personal contracts. To keep me on track, I set some guidelines for myself that help me to maintain integrity in this area. I consider carefully before I “promise” or commit because I value the trust of others. I evaluate the deliverable(s) I am agreeing to and ensure that I have the will, the resources, the capacity, etc. to carry through. Only when I have a clear understanding of my expectations and a reasonable certainty that I can meet them will I “promise.”