Here we are at the end of week one in the A-Z Blog Challenge. Emphasis on the word challenge. I've had a lot going on this week besides what I've written here so patting myself on the back for staying the course. I'm hopeful next week will be more manageable time wise, but we'll see.
Day 5-E is for Experience
"something personally encountered, undergone, or lived through;
the conscious events that make up an individual life
"Experience is the teacher of all things."
Julius Caesar
It's been said that so much of who we are is where we've been and I tend to agree with that sentiment. I'm into my 'third act' (trying not to overuse the phrase but I gotta call it something), so I have plenty of life experiences to mull over. Since my blog is often the place where I 'mull' I'm going to write about a handful of those experiences here this month.
Let's start at the beginning shall we? My family. The one I grew up in.
This of course covers a myriad of experiences and I know I'm lucky in that department. I had a happy childhood. I grew up with two sisters and a brother, parents who were married, who worked hard to provide for our every need, and who gave us a sense of security and stability not all children are fortunate to know.
They made their faith in Jesus a priority in their lives and in our home. We weren't spoiled with material things, but we had all that we needed and most of what we wanted. And we had each other.
We still do.
Playmates, confidants, sparring partners, back seat riders, secret sharers, story keepers, truth tellers, teammates.
Children learn by watching, by imitating what they see. I'm grateful to have had a good example to follow, which in turn impacted the way I've interacted with my own family (the one I birthed) as well as other people I've encountered along life's way.
Studies have shown that children who grow up in a stable home have a higher degree of success, feel less anxiety, and also less stress. I can still so clearly picture my mother sitting on the side of my bed, telling me to tell her my troubles and she'd listen and help if help is what was needed. My world view, my self-esteem and my sense of belonging are all things that were home grown.
To be a child who knows they are loved is such a gift. It frees you to be authentically you.
Another great post Joyce. I was lucky to have had good examples too.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful tribute to your family of origin and your childhood. My own was not so idyllic, and that made me even more determined to create a good home and childhood for my kids. Hope you have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteIssues that have confronted me in recent years confirm what you said, "... so much of who we are is where we've been." People behave based on what they've experienced, how they've been hurt/offended and/or the successes they've had.
ReplyDeleteContinuing with that line of thought, the saying that "hurt people hurt people" fits right in and helps me to be forgiving. Some of the hurt others have dished out is more of a response to how they've been hurt, and is not always my fault.
Thank you for helping me think this out.
I also had a great childhood and I feel blessed to be part of such a close and caring family. This was a lovely post
ReplyDeleteAll so very true, Joyce. You have such a gift with words. My sisters and I talk about how blessed we were with wonderful parents and a small town to grow up in where everyone cared and neighbors were called "aunt" and "uncle". So blessed. I enjoyed this post!!
ReplyDeleteThis was a good post. You were fortunate to know Jesus from such a young age and from your family. My one grandma always took us to church, my parents sent us to a Catholic school for a time and, since we were fairly independent kids, we were free to go to church when we wanted as we got older. I'm thankful for Jesus's constant calling to me in my life. I think my parents did the best they could and I'm thankful that my husband and I were able to have the community we did to raise our children. I'm glad to have found such a kindred spirit here in blogland. I hope your weekend was restful and this week gives you the space it seems you want.
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