Totally Fulfilled
need to get you started on your ship?” She allowed me to not have limitations. She helped build my confidence when I was a very shy boy. She allowed me to dream. She was my Gram, my friend, my inspiration, and my mentor. How could I view her life for even one second as a negative? It would go against everything I am and everything she helped me to be. As I write this section, it has only been a few days since I got back from Virginia, where my grandmother now lives. She is not in the best of health and can barely speak. When she does speak, she is confused. But I still see the beautiful woman I once knew. I would gladly give up a few years of my life to have the old Gram back. But I can’t. Her words will ring in my ears forever. I hope I am able to share this gift with you that will allow some of her words and some of mine to ring in your ears in times of adversity. It’s the greatest gift I could give you. Free Yourself from Ill Thoughts We all have different aspects of life that can hold us back. I used to hold ill thoughts about some of the choices my parents made. How could each of my parents get married four times and still be single? Why did my dad have a problem with anger and cause me so much stress when I was young? Why did my grandfather, who was like a
second dad to me, die when I was ten? Why did my mom move away when I was twelve and we only got to see each other a few times a year? Like you, I could ask why. I choose not to. Those experiences helped create the person I am today. And I like me!
Use your past experiences as a springboard for greater success, not a reason to fail.
Use your past experiences as a springboard for greater suc- cess, not a reason to fail. I’m definitely not perfect and have lots of room to grow, but I am proud of the things I have accomplished.
226
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs