Choice

When I take a step back and listen to what people around me are saying and watch what people around me are doing one thing becomes very clear. Everything that I believe in, that I do and that I am is a result of what I do, what I choose not to do and how I handle the events of my life.

Simple, and I know many of you know this. What I didn't think of until recently is how apparent the results are to everyone around me. I don't know everything about what has shaped you, but I see the results clear as day. I see when it has made you stronger or when it made you hide.

None of you know all of my past or my present state. And no, this is not that kind of blog where I will divulge all my secrets. But despite not knowing, you can see how my decisions have shaped me. It is obvious when I choose to come to class or not, and the effects of my decisions are equally apparent. If I'm there, I get a little better, more confident, closer to where I'm trying to get to. When I'm not, you know I'm struggling somehow, in some aspect of my life. When someone shows me a kindness I know something brought them to that point. When someone shows me malice I know something took them to that place. Strangely enough, the same event can cause both outcomes.

I want to tell you a story. There are two brothers, similar in age and intellect. They come from a broken home, one of their parents left without a word to either of them. The other parent was less than understanding. They have lost both their parents since, both at a young age. Both were affected by a serious childhood illness in some way.

One brother has a wife whom loves him, a home and a job he enjoys. He is for the most part content, working towards building a family, has friends who love and respect him. He is happy.

The other brother has always felt like he was a victim, sites his poor childhood experiences as the reason for his poor decisions in life. His wife has left him, he has alienated many of his friends. He is bitter, he doesn't see how his actions have brought him to this place in his life.

Now, which brother do you identify with? Which would you rather be? Both had the same beginning in life. But they are on very different paths, simply because of how they decided to deal with the events in their lives.

You can thrive if you choose to. Or not. It always comes down to choice.