Life can teach us some tough and painful lessons. There are many experiences we wish we didn’t have to go through. It seems, sometimes, we take one step forward, and then two steps back.
We can learn these lessons through our own experience, or by watching the events of other people’s lives. It can be painful and it can drive even the strongest person to their knees. Grief, disappointment, hurt, pain, anger, sadness, and even tears are all just a part of life.
Difficult times have a particular way of reminding us of what is essential, and who is important in our lives. We must recognize that there is something deep and hidden inside of us during these hard times. The will to survive is bred into every person who has ever been born.
We should remember the little things, and keep our focus on what really matters: life, hope, dreams, and love. For some, it is an unwavering faith in God that still guides us through the darkest times.
if we are honest with ourselves, nothing in the world will hit you as hard as life. Often you will be blindsided, caught off guard at the most inopportune time. And if you let it, life will keep beating you down.
The scars of our life are more than souvenirs, they shape who we become. More importantly, how we react to heartache, failure, unhappiness, sorrow, and lamentation influences our outlook on life. Malcolm X wrote: “Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.
When I am at the lowest points in my life, I escape into my words, and the words of others, to capture the rawness of life and look for a sense of hope. Every battle and every fight, every tear, I write it down so others may find courage or find hope, or just to know they are not alone.
From the depths of my soul, I am not afraid to expose my own brokenness for the world to see. I have learned that even if it doesn’t help my own struggle, my words may capture the exact emotion someone else is experiencing. We need more people that can offer hope through life’s difficult times. We need those who can demonstrate love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and humility. We should embrace those people and keep them close, for they are very rare these days.
For every step forward we take in our life, we have to make sure that we do not take two steps back in channeling our emotions because of what life has hurled at us. The dark premises of human weakness, along with the issues we face in this world, means we have to be resilient.
Every person who has ever walked upon this earth have experienced painful situations in life, and have questioned whether or not they were going to get back up. And if I fall, I will rise again. It’s not the fall that defines us. It is our actions afterward that build our character.
As long as I have a breath, I will keep trying and keep going. I won’t quit at life. One step forward. One step at a time.
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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited. For more information on this subject or any education issue please contact Professional Educators of Tennessee.
JC Bowman 
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