The Gift

As I begin this blog journal, my first ever, I am taken back to a Christmas many years ago when my sweet daughter Samantha gave me a beautiful gift that took me many years to fully comprehend. She gave me this lovely zebra notebook, or so I thought it was a notebook. I said "thank you Sami," and she said "mama, do you know what it is?" I said "yes, of course sweetheart, it is a zebra notebook. I love zebras." She responded "no mama, it is not a notebook, it is a journal. I want you to write in it everyday." I apologized for my error of thinking it was a notebook and thanked her for this special journal. Had it not come from her I would have never even wrote in the journal but I love her so much that I forced myself to do so. As time went by I began to enjoy writing in my journal, but I am not sure it was for the right reasons becasue it seemed that all I was doing was writing down what made me sad, more like a drama diary. I am happy to say that although it took me 14 years I finally understand the importance of writing daily in a journal. But wait, maybe I understood more than I thought. I looked up the word journal. Journal-a daily record, as of occurrences, experiences, or observations. I believe that is what I was doing all along. As I looked back now at that journal I am grateful that she gave me this precious gift, and that I can look back and see how far I have come. That in the face of adversity I did not give up, I persevered. Through prayer, faith, hope, and love I found a new beginning. Even though  we had nothing we still had each other, we had a roof over our head, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and love to hold us together. When I started writing in my journal I was a single mom. I did not have any education other than a high school diploma and I was working three jobs but I never gave up. I am now married to a beautiful man, my wonderful children are successful adults, I have a bachelors in psychology and am currently pursuing a masters in acupuncture. As I read the journal she gave me I a so happy that I wrote in it as I can see now that no matter what life brings me, I can always find my happy place. If you can fake it you can make it! I recently watched Unbroken (which by the way I highly recommend, such a beautiful movie). The movie touched me so because in the face of so much adversity he never gave up, he persevered, and he stayed true to himself. I have learned that if there is one thing I am exceptional at it is perseverance to continue my pursuit to happiness!