You Have Come A Long Way!

​In writing my memoir, I confess, there have been many chapters along the way that have stopped me and made me think - and at times say out loud to an empty apartment - what a messed up life you've lived.

When I reflect on the demons that invaded me along the way, and the demons I created to invade the world, I can't help but conclude at times that I have sure made waste of this one and only chance life will ever give me.

But then I pinch myself - a reminder - of all that God and I have made of the waste. For a moment, I look back and do not see demons, but instead - I see how far I have come.

We do that, I think. All of us. We spend so much time thinking about how far we have to go that we don't celebrate maybe the grandest reason for celebration in all of us - just how far we've come.

If you are reading this, you have defied odds in life. I am sure of it. You, like me, have had life stand against you on the way to where you are, and yet, here you are.

You've come a LONG way.

When we don't recognize that, the mile ahead can feel like a cross country drive. The year ahead can feel like centuries. The challenges standing against us can feel like the whole world standing against us.

I think there is great hope to be found in looking at the possibilities out in front of us. But I think the greatest source of fuel for realizing those possibilities is reminding ourselves just how far we've come.

Too often we look in the mirror and see the person the world has beaten up along the way. Maybe today look in the mirror and see the person the world couldn't find a way to knock out.

Look in the mirror and yes, see the person who has a long way to go, but as you turn and walk away, don't forget to congratulate her on just how far she's come!!

We've all come much further than often we give ourselves credit for.