How to reinvent Myself with STRENGTH, COURAGE & WISDOM by h.g. ~happiness

"Reinventing Myself with Strength, Courage & Wisdom was one of the hardest things I've done in my life, but also very rewarding."

How I did it: One year ago I found myself completely stripped of everything I had worked for and believed in my entire life...

I had to "reinvent" myself because life as I had known it was over...I had to move, adapt, or die...
and dying was not an option for me.

I was already in the process of learning to accept the devastating loss of my marriage and dealing with that when I got the news of also losing my teaching career due to the California budget crisis....that was a hard bitter pill to swallow since I loved teaching and was in the middle of my teaching career, permanent and tenured, and I needed my salary to survive -  and besides I had always given my everything to being a teacher, it was WHO I WAS.

I suddenly found myself completely stripped of the roles and positions that I had worked for over 22 years to establish, and it was terrifying for me. I cried a lot, I grieved the losses, and I talked a lot with those who comforted me often.

I could not let that fear immobilize me, I had to find a way to myself and I did.

It took one year of being strong, having courage, and seeking wisdom, to finally come to where I am today.

Today through the many trials and tribulations, hours of working in several internships, research, soul searching, hard work, developing a private practice, and learning with a few hard knocks how to be more business minded, without being heartless. I feel I have met this goal as I see myself as a successful person in the new areas I have pursued.

Sometimes we don't choose our challenges in life, they choose us, but it is up to us how we meet the challenges...I have learned, that I can adapt, change, and reinvent with strength, courage, and wisdom...if need be, and that these challenges will make me stronger.

I have learned most importantly...I can do anything with a little help from my friends and family.

What's the worst thing that can happen? I fall down....and I get back up and try again, and again, and again...until....finally, I succeed.

At the end of the day, what matters most is that I tried my best, I lived honestly, and I helped others. If I can say I've done those things, I can rest easy.

Lessons & tips: With every challenge comes opportunity...it sounds like a cliche but it is true.... remember, it is WHO you ARE that matters....and how you treat yourself and others that matters most.

Reach out to others to provide support and caring, and others will reach to you as well...

Take each step day by day, reflect, read, educate yourself, work hard, remember balance, laugh, smile, be grateful for what is good in your life...keep moving toward your dreams, whatever they may be.

Resources:

  • vision board-dreams
  • friends/family
  • alternative career/training
  • back up plan
  • savings
  • live frugally
  • work hard, don't give up
  • faith, prayer
  • meditation
  • yoga
  • walking
  • 43T
  • :)


16 people found this helpful
 

Mar 21, 2010, 10:27PM PDT | 22 comments | 56 cheers


Comments:

~hopped~

Good list!

Makes sense.

I’ll trade off the walking for running and yoga for stretching.

But smiling and laughing – priceless. Cannot live without it!

Thanks for sharing!!!

Mar 21, 2010, 10:39PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 2 cheers

h.g. ~happiness ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥Infinite Love & Gratitude ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

:)

smart to learn and “adapt” things to fit ourselves…

Mar 22, 2010, 12:42PM PDT | Respond to this 1 cheer

flowergirlresumed is back on 43 things

Wonderful entry

full of strength, optimism and committment… You are an amazing woman, one who looks for the meaning and lessons in all that this life seems compelled to offer us… You are a gift and fantastic example to us all… Love, love, love my friend :)

Mar 22, 2010, 05:28AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 3 cheers

h.g. ~happiness ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥Infinite Love & Gratitude ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

flowergirl~

you always know just what to say~
:)

Mar 22, 2010, 09:33PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

flowergirlresumed is back on 43 things

Thanks

but I don’t know about that… :)

Mar 23, 2010, 07:36AM PDT | Respond to this 1 cheer

theba2il Great Spirit, let me plant positive seeds.

Story

I found this on facebook. Maybe you would like to share your story? Many thanks for sharing your story. By sharing it helps people to keep going by picking ourselves up and dusting off.

Beliefnet Do you have a story of personal transformation? Share it in our “Stories of Renewal Writing Contest” for your chance to be published on Beliefnet! Find out more here: http://bit.ly/renewalcontest

Mar 22, 2010, 09:22AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

h.g. ~happiness ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥Infinite Love & Gratitude ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you ba2il~

I will check it out!!!
:)

and thank you for taking the time to read and comment~ I appreciate you very much.

Mar 22, 2010, 09:35PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

theba2il Great Spirit, let me plant positive seeds.

As Always,

my pleasure. I appreciate you very much too. Learning a lot from you, (((h.g. ~happiness))). Take care.

Mar 23, 2010, 08:07AM PDT | Respond to this 1 cheer

naanu ``busy`` is busy with studies

!~namaste~!

very helpful post for me to follow… deciding in mind which thing i need to adapt…

learning from u…

  • ```Sometimes we don’t choose our challenges in life, they choose us, but it is up to us how we meet the challenges..````
  • ```I can do anything with a little help from my friends and family.```
  • ```What’s the worst thing that can happen? I fall down….and I get back up and try again, and again, and again…until….finally, I succeed. ```

your resource list is very imp for me…

  • in india its call sadafuli.. this flower blossoms every day, every week, month, year, n in every season…*
    u r like that…

Mar 22, 2010, 10:26AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

h.g. ~happiness ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥Infinite Love & Gratitude ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

beyond sweet~

naanu….

Thank you for that beautiful gift~
really…
really,
special!

Mar 22, 2010, 09:36PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

naanu ``busy`` is busy with studies

i m

obliged

:)

Mar 23, 2010, 09:33AM PDT | Respond to this 1 cheer

(This comment was deleted.)

Mar 23, 2010, 09:06AM PDT

theba2il Great Spirit, let me plant positive seeds.

Lovely

Thank you for sharing a part of India:0)

Mar 23, 2010, 09:07AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

naanu ``busy`` is busy with studies

sharing n talking

abt india is my duty, pride, n right.. ;)

that photo is from our garden… at my hometown goa… where my aunt stays..

:)

Mar 23, 2010, 09:38AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

theba2il Great Spirit, let me plant positive seeds.

Goa

I believe that is the part of India, I want to visit if we are blessed with the opportunity. Is it near a body of water?

Mar 23, 2010, 10:15AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

naanu ``busy`` is busy with studies

yes

all the famous beaches & rivers…
kokan seashores

Mar 23, 2010, 11:22PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

Cool - theba2il

Tarrador is going to make May MARVELOUS!

It was about this time...

I recall coming across your posts about the loss of your teaching career. Your heartfelt sense of loss and upset struck me deeply.

What a world away you are today. Twice to Nepal, libraries, foundations, all the amazing things you have undergone in such a short time. Lucky for those of us who have had a window onto your transformation.

Cheers and congratulations on your reinvention, rediscovery, and reemergence.

★★★★

Mar 22, 2010, 07:56PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 6 cheers

h.g. ~happiness ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥Infinite Love & Gratitude ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Words are Gifts~

thank you Tarrador,

your words are always precious.

:)

Mar 22, 2010, 09:37PM PDT | Respond to this

Lisa

You are a gift to us, h.g.

It has been so inspiring to hear about your process of reinventing yourself in your life. I’m so glad that 43t could be a place for you to share that and find support here, too.

(((((h.g.)))))

Mar 22, 2010, 10:47PM PDT | Respond to this 2 cheers

Jessy

h.g., you are an inspiration

to the many among us who have found out, one way or another, that (in the words of dear Razz), “It’s all temporary.”

You have emerged from your cocoon as a beautiful butterfly and given us all the chance to cheer you as you fly.

Thanks for that.

Apr 02, 2010, 05:24AM PDT | Respond to this 3 cheers

NualaBuala is happy and grateful

What a beautiful

inspirational post from a beautiful inspirational person!

You rock HG!!!

Wishing you all the love and joy you bring others.

Nuala x

May 17, 2010, 03:04PM PDT | Respond to this 3 cheers

AStrangerr is in love

out of cheers again

but if I manage but half as much courage and determination as you I will do more then well.

Still don’t know what I have done in my previous lives to find myself with such a fine bunch of people.

best of luck

J.

Aug 06, 2010, 12:30PM PDT | Respond to this 1 cheer


h.g. ~happiness has gotten 56 cheers on this entry.

 

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