I was recently inspired by a post on Instagram. One of my coaching colleagues, Dr. Sasha Heinz, suggested that we stop and spend a few moments thinking about who we were ten years ago.
Ten Years Ago
This is me in 2008. I feel sad when I look at this photo. It was a hard year for me. My 18-year marriage was over. I was a single mom of 6. I cried every time my kids had to go spend time with their dad. I was working two jobs–one of them graveyard, so I was constantly tired. I stopped going to church, stopped praying, stopped being me. It felt like I was barely surviving.
I was spiraling in doubt, confusion, rebellion, and overwhelm. The life and family I had planned on was over. I was drowning financially. I lived in a house I hated. I was mad, and sad, and didn’t have a lot of hope.
Now, ten years later, my life looks totally different. I started a business. I wrote a book. I have an amazing husband. Four more kids to love. Grandkids. A great job. Financial security. So many blessings.
When I look back now and think about how I got from there to here, it was nothing huge. It was just a lot of little decisions.
But most of all, it was just deciding not to feel sorry for myself. I stopped thinking of myself as a victim. I decided my life could be whatever I wanted it to be.
It hasn’t been easy. There have been a lot of ups and downs.
What’s so interesting is there are still parts of my life that are hard, and I could tell you a sad story about my life today, but I choose not to.
Likewise, I could have told you the “story” of my life in 2008 from a more positive perspective. I didn’t see it that way at the time. I didn’t even know I could.
But I do know that now.
I love that we can learn and grow, and when we know better, we do better.
Do you believe you can tell the story of your past any way you want to?
Let me tell you my 2008 story again:
In 2008 I finally had the courage to leave a very difficult 18 year marriage. I found two jobs that allowed me to work around my kids’ schedule. I found an apartment we could afford near my parents who helped pick my kids up from school when I was working.
I used the time my kids were with their dad to fulfill a lifelong dream of writing a novel. My job ended up being something I could work part-time from home, which gave me some free time to start a business. That business helped me build the skills which led to the dream job I have today working for The Life Coach School.
I learned some spiritual lessons that I couldn’t have learned any other way. I saw many tender mercies from Heaven, including help finding my amazing husband who loves my kids as if they were his own.
Feels much better, right?
What did your life look like ten years ago? And how are you choosing to tell your story?
