“We choose to go…not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to measure and organize the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win”

~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy ~

I am inspired by this quotation.  It is a good reminder for me every once in a while.

Those who know me, know very well that I live my life based on challenges.  As a matter of fact, Challenge should be my middle name.  My life story has been nothing but a challenge and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.  Every experience I have, every challenge I overcome, I am a stronger person because of it.

Sometimes though, I wish things didn’t have to be so hard.  I wish for once things would go right from the first time.  I wish I didn’t have to work so hard to get the simplest things in life.  Having said that, I know by now that the reason why the simplest things are hard for me to obtain because they are the most meaningful in my life.

It is easier said than done to accept the challenges we are faced with everyday.  I am no different.  At first, I complain and huff and puff about why this is happening? and why am I not getting my way?  I realize after the fact, that things do not happen always when I want it and how I want it.  It will happen if it is meant for me.  And it won’t if it is not good for me.  It’s God’s way of protecting me.  That’s when I say: “Mom must be praying for me!”

I will not deny the fact that I have a lot of faith and I believe that everything that comes my way is for my best interest in the long run.  It took me a long time to come to this conclusion, but better late than never right?! I am human and I react when I am faced with a challenge even though I thrive off it. I guess I become a different person when that happens.  It feels like I am at war and that I must win it.  I have a goal ahead and I must accomplish it.  Again I will say, those who do personally know me, will understand when I say that when I am after something, I usually get it. Not that I always get what I want, this couldn’t be further away from the truth – fortunately, what was best for me, I ended up obtaining after a long battle.  Now that is what you call DETERMINATION …… and let me tell you … I got lots of that. My determination and passion in life has gotten me to places I never thought I would be.  The battles I fought, the mountains I climbed, the tears I have cried; all are worth it in the end.

Do you know that feeling of victory when you finally accomplish what you have worked so hard for? You know, the one that no one can take away from you, the one that no one can feel but you, the one that remains in your heart forever.  I still remember some of my greatest victories.  To you it might be something so simple and so normal – for me it means the world. Remember what I said at the beginning: the simplest things in life were hard to obtain because they ended up being the most meaningful to me….

Let me give you an example – long time ago this occurred – ok not that long but a several years back.  I remember that feeling when I sat in my apartment crying because I somehow managed to bring home my “first desktop”.  The obstacles that I had to overcome at that time were beyond difficult – but without going into super details – I did it …. all on my own … I did it … This was one of my greatest accomplishments to this day.  Not because of the actual prize, but because of the journey I had to go through in order to get to the final destination.  From that day on, nothing was impossible for me.  I knew I wasn’t always gonna win my challenges, but I knew that I will never know if I can – until I tried.

So here I am, at a stage in my life where I had to face some challenges to get here and still do, but I know in my heart that I owe it to myself to keep on trying until my last breath.  If I do not try – I will never know!!!

That is my message to you today.  I urge you to never give up no matter the challenge.  I encourage you to fight and to go after what you want.  Do not allow anyone to discourage you or put you down.  Who said life would be easy? It is what WE want it to be – not what it actually is.  So keep on pushing through and one day you will get to where you need to be.  And if plans change along the way, don’t despair, it is only to lead you to the path that you are meant to be on. Your destiny awaits you by the choices you make in life.  This is the path I have chosen and I am seeing it to the end, no matter where that may lead.