The Shape of Me

My Gratitude Journal asked me a question yesterday that really got me thinking. The question was, “What is an experience that you are grateful for in your life that has shaped you into who you are today?”

Dang, Gratitude Journal, that is some deep shit to ask a girl at 4:30am.
I sat there and thought about it, and overwhelmingly, the things that I thought of were due to some of the darkest moments in my life. 
Failure. Disappointment.  Suffering. Distress. Tough times.
These times in my life, even though they sucked while I was going through them, shaped me into who I am at this very moment…and for that, I am grateful.
It is through these uncomfortable moments, that I was able to grow the most. Being pruned, so to say, so that I could flourish.
My friends, failure is a GOOD thing. It means you have courage, guts, grit….and when you are going through hard times, remember that they are most likely temporary and that they WILL pass. When the difficulty is over, you are going to have a choice: Will you learn and grow from your scars, or will you become bitter? THAT is the shit that shapes you. What kind of person do you want to become? One who grows from the pruning or one who shrivels up and dies on the inside?
So many people are afraid to let their kids fail, or go through tough times. They want their children to only have good experiences in their lives without having to go through the tough times. They want to do everything in their power to make sure their kids don’t have to worry about anything. For the love of God, please stop that! You are hurting them worse by doing this. Let them fly on their own and let them make their own ways. Let them fail. It will make them better people, my dear friends. 
The world is mysterious and unpredictable and it is so easy to look at what is happening all around us and become discouraged and fearful. We don’t wanna go through the times of adversity. Of course we don’t!! But dammit…I promise you that you can come out so much stronger when you are out of that storm. Let them shape you instead of destroying you.
God doesn’t promise us a life full of butterflies and roses. He promises us that He will be right there, next to us, when we go through that valley. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you.

Adversity = Stronger You
Distress = Temporary
Failure = You have courage. Dust yourself off get your ass back up.
Hurt= Pruning
Suffering = Strength
Disappointment = Learning
Experiences = The shape of YOU
Check out my appearance in the SA Living Show by Clicking HERE!
jen guidry leaning on wall smiling
The shape of ME!

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