Well, yes. I would wonder that, too, if I were in your shoes! But the truth is -- unlike many of my family members, I didn't know what I wanted to do from a very young age. I had no idea. As is common with children, I vacillated between wanting to be an author, a ballerina, a veterinarian, an orthodontist...
(Okay, so maybe most kids aren't interested in orthodontics. Hey, I was -- and am! -- a little quirky.)
But then... life happened. And the life I was given taught me many things, both good and bad.
It taught me that life isn't fair... that even the most well-meaning people can't magically fix some problems... that there is a depth of emotional pain that many people cannot even fathom.
But it also taught me that I am a survivor... that I am never alone because my God is always with me... that I can use my experiences to help others heal.
It taught me that there are people who care, even if they can't "fix" the problem.
It taught me that sometimes, feeling cared about matters more than having your problems fixed.
It taught me that people often underestimate how resilient human beings are.
And above all else, it taught me that I can use the knowledge I've gained both through personal experience and through "book learning" to help other wounded people heal -- and that the fact that I am now less than two months away from graduating with my Master's in social work is a total "God-thing."
Five years ago, I never would have imagined being where I am now. Five years ago, I was almost done with my undergraduate degree (psychology, counseling track), and I was extremely depressed.
Five years ago, I probably would've told you that I would be dead by my 25th birthday. Since I'll be turning 27 this year, I think it's very safe to say that I was wrong!
Five years ago, I probably would've told you, "I'll never amount to anything." And what's worse -- I would've believed it.
But five years is enough time for a lot of things to change. And change they have. My expectations of myself have changed. My thoughts about what the statement "I'll never amount to anything" have changed. After all -- what defines us? Is it material goods? money? what kind of house we live in? the cars we drive? the grades we get in school? the public recognition we receive?...
...Or is it our God-given talents and abilities?
I'm not really sure if I answered the question about the title of my blog, but I'm sure it'll become more clear to you -- and me! -- as time passes. Accidents are not always bad. Just because five years ago I never would have imagined myself almost being done with getting my Master's doesn't mean that this is not where I was intended to be. I just kind of detoured a bit -- rarely does life go in a straight line -- but that's okay. It just means that learning and growing will be continually occurring.
"The day you stop learning is the day you stop living." -- Unknown (attributed to many).
"The day you stop learning is the day you stop living." -- Unknown (attributed to many).
Cheers!~
Addison.
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