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My aha moments

My aha moments are not huge things but things that changed my life for the better. Moments when a light bulb went on in my head. Why didn’t I think about that? How did I miss the signs?

The light went on

The first time I heard about light bulb moments was during one of Oprah’s TV show. I cannot exactly remember which episode it was though. What I do remember is that a light went on in my head too. I was then able to recognize these moments in my life instantly.

My aha moments

When someone show you who they are believe them.

I used to be very naive when it came to people and their attentions. Therefore I didn’t see a friend turning evil, even dangerous until she infiltrated my family. She turned some close family members against me. Leaving me to gasp – the signs were there and I didn’t want to believe them. For one: She didn’t respect boundaries. I don’t smoke and have a sign on my front door that says no smoking allowed inside my house. She would come in, ignoring my smoking rule and light a cigarette in my home, using a saucer as an ashtray. “We are friends, I know you won’t mind” Allowing her to step over the no smoking in my home boundary set the tone for what was to come.

You are enough

I became a single parent in 1993 and like many other single parents out there I struggled with finances, broken stuff, maintenance etc. What I saw was a mountain so high that it seemed impossible to climb. My misery continued for several years until one day when I read an article about another single woman from a different country. She actually build a house over the span of 15 years while raising 4 kids and working full time. She had no experience and learned everything from books, neighbors and picking up tips on a daily basis. The one thing she said stuck with me:

Start small, learning how to mix cement or how to clamp 2 pieces of wood together. So I started doing the same thing and after about 10 years I fixed my house all by myself and are now learning how to garden.

You are stronger than you think