Through the Fire

It is amazing to me how often life can bring us challenges that are meant to help us to learn, grow, and experience. I have often in my most trying times felt as if I have been in a fire, trapped, scared, burned, enraged, damaging, fighting for my life, for breathe.  At one point in my life, I thought that if I had to go through this one really horrific experience, then life would be kinder, gentler to me.  Yet as disappointing as some of my most recent experiences have been, I realize that this is life.  That the experiences, trusting decisions that I have made, only to find out that perhaps I made a mistake in trusting the wrong people, perhaps for the wrong reasons.  It is at these moments I feel like I am going through the fire.  I am sure that many have experienced that as well.  You know those moments of panic that make your insides turn and your heart race while thinking “WHAT DID I DO!???” .

It’s the answer to that question that defines who I am, who you are.  ”What did I do????”.  What did you do????

I did this: I have loved, not storybook love, I have really truly and desperately loved another.  Passionately, fiercely and with loyalty.  It is the fiber of who I am.   I have lived in both the light and in darkness, I have made mistakes, I have trusted the wrong people, I have betrayed myself by believing what I knew was wrong. I have endured false accusations and responded with false pride, but I have learned. I have been angry and fierce when I should have been quiet and humble, but I have learned.  I have taken money and things as a replacement for being loved, but I have learned.   I  have learned to appreciate and be thankful for all that I have been given to experience. I have trusted  the right people to be in my life. People that love me, and appreciate me, and see through to the core of my being and they get it!   I have been happy, sad, excited ,disappointed.  I have been angry and frightened, but I have been brave and forthcoming too.  I always kept going. Some days you walk the path alone, other days you have a hand to hold, or a light to guide your way.  The fire has been worth it.  The pain was worth the joy.  I never gave up because  I have learned.  I have gone through the fire, I have crashed and I have burned, and I have learned how to be a better me.   You have done it too, I am certain of it.  I have met amazing women  along my journey that have proven to me that regardless of how often we go through the fire, we can all come out renewed, better.  Isn’t that what we are her to do?  To learn, to teach, to accept, to evolve, to go through the fire, so that you can come out renewed…..

A friend of mine posted this saying on her wall it is a comforting truth:

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”                                                                                                                                                  -author unknown

I have been blessed to have known and have in my life many women with strong souls.

While going through your fire may be at times painful, trust that you are learning. Trust that the universe is bringing to you what you need to survive, and most of all trust yourself to know that you are always striving to fight for your truth. You are always being given an opportunity to learn, to grow, to be the person you were meant to be…

May you always  find peace, strength and light as YOU RISE ABOVE……..

Toni