Carpe Diem

I am sure we have all heard the Latin saying, Carpe Diem, or “sieze the day.”

In my previous blog post, I wrote about how not everyone has been told that they can do anything that they set their minds to, regardless of their challenges. Looking back on my life, I truly believe that this is the most empowering belief a person can have. Knowing that people believe in my abilities is ultimately what has allowed me to live my life the way that I try to everyday. I did, however, go through a dark period in my life where I was depressed and frankly, I was angry because I did not understand the reasoning behind my circumstances. What would my future look like? This was a question that constantly occupied the thoughts inside my head. Thoughts that I was too afraid to share with those around me. One of the lessons life has taught me is that it is completely okay to feel angry and upset. Let’s face it, we all have bad days. Even though we may have no control over what is happening in our lives, we are blessed with the beautiful and ever present gift of choice. In other words, I can choose how I react to each of my challenges.

So, I choose to try every new activity that comes my way. I choose to spend the majority of my afternoons playing with and mentoring incredible, little human beings. I choose to laugh. I laugh until my stomach feels like it’s going to explode, because a day without laughter is a day wasted. And, I choose to be happy. And when I encounter a challenge, or I am having a crappy day, I remember that I am a ninja, and with help from those around me, I can make it through anything life throws at me.