The Ups and Downs of Life

Life is not a straight line up to the top and "then you die"... NO, it is a series of events that build you, your character and make you live all sorts of emotions.

The staircase can be steep at times, true!  Other times you will find solace and warmth.

The "New Man" came into our lives. He was tall. He was kind. He was playful. I even asked him if he was staying over to sleep. That's how much I enjoyed having him around. He took us both, my brother and I, under his wing. We became his and my mom's. It made my mom happy. It made us all happy.

We spent time with him. He spent time with us. He was kind and fun. He would pick me up from school on his motorbike, I felt cool. I felt loved , felt safe and cared for by a man, for the first time.  He would help me with my homework, which made me feel special. He would cook, play, study for his degree... He was going places! It finally felt right.  

Becoming his children wasn't always easy for him.  It was hard for people around to understand his love for us at first.  His decision to take us in as his own.  Not just one child, but 2.  He just knew that we were meant to be in his life forever. It was what he wanted.  It brought joy to us all. 

My mom found her happiness again.  She also felt safe again.   Living a life of carefreeness.  Joyful peace.  What all kids want and should have.

I remember the time when I learned I was going to become a big sister once again. This time it was going to be a girl.   What a joy!  

I was even allowed to get involved in the name choosing process. I really felt special and part of something great. 

For the first time since I was born, I had a mother, a sibling, another one on the way and a Father. The whole package. I wasn't too much for no one. I wasn't in the way. I wasn't a burden. I was allowed just to be me. Isn't that just what all children want and deserve?!

Not long before my mom was about to give birth, my brother and I were taken to my grand-parents house. It was time for us to welcome our new sister. She was tiny, she was beautiful. I felt very protective of her. Another human being, part of our circle of love.

This new man brought so much more than I'd ever experienced. He was great! My sister was great! My mom was happy. My brother was happy. I was happy!

A few years later, something shifted...

The ups and downs of life aren't always easy to navigate for everyone. Sometimes the situation you live makes it harder to pull yourself outside of the tough situation and makes you take decisions you later regret. Hard times can bring hard decisions.

However, it is important to surf the wave of the good times, savour them and see them for what they are and how they are forming you. All situation have a part of the life path you are on. Don't over analyze everything. Live in the present moment, give up the hold you have on making everything right. Live the present moment. You are worth it!

This chapter is about, once again, remembering the good in our life. We are built on both the hardships and the good in our life. The people and events that shape us. 

Remembering that we are both good and bad. We are what we decide to be. 

Have you written down the good that you’ve lived? 

We tend to write more the bad than the good times. I recommend you write down 10 events in your life that made your feel special. 

You’re Worth It!