How I Turned a Hard Life Lesson into an Inspiration
My story about death and depression
My life took an unexpected turn 3 years ago when I lost my Mom. For someone who was used to having everything provided, it was the most difficult time of my life.
Now, I’m not going to tell you that everything has been perfect since then, because it hasn’t — but it has taught me more about myself than I could have ever imagined.
I am so much stronger now than I ever thought possible, and I want to share my story with you as an inspiration to never give up on your life.
Personal Story
I’ve always had a strong memory. Like when my mom died, I remember every detail of that day as if it were yesterday. The time was 1:30 pm; it was a Friday and I was in our living room. That’s when the phone call came.
It was a normal day and my sister had picked up Mom to take her to a doctors appointment. After completing her test to check her veins for a new stint, she just dropped on the floor dead. They gave her CPR and took her to the hospital in a coma. She was 72 years old. And that was three years ago.
In other words, death is never easy to cope with but when you lose someone who has been there for you since your birth, it hits even harder than one could ever imagine, especially when it’s completely unexpected (and to make matters worse, my mother died in what some people might call unfortunate circumstances)… But anyway… That brings me to my next point.
What Made It Hard?
What made it hard was beside being my Mom, she was my best friend. I had become disabled due to a back injury and while fighting disability I was living with her and we were taking care of each other.
My father had passed away 6 years earlier so she and I became close as I never married or had children, she was all I had. After she was in the hospital in a coma, the doctor told us that she had no oxygen to her brain for too long (over 30 minutes) so she would never recover.
The hardest decision of my life was to agree to pull the plug as it was her wishes. My selfishness did not want to let her go. It is a hard lesson in life to say goodbye to both your parents and be alone in life made it tougher.
What did you learn?
I learned learned quickly that I had to live with the choices that I had made in my life by staying alone. Fortunately, I was blessed with a brother and sister and they both had wonderful families that were open and accepting to me.
After going to a deep dark place in my mind, after about 2 years of feeling sorry for myself, I finally came out of it after having amazing dreams of my parents. The dreams really scared me but also made me realize that they would want me to enjoy life and move on.
I finally figured out that you can not put your life on hold because of your grief for the loss of your parents. My mindset changed to happiness and after coming out of my shell things changed.
What happened next?
I started to go out and make new friends and socialized more than ever. My health, both mental and physical were improving. Once you learn to accept things in your life, new doors begin to open.
Even though I’m unable to work due to my disability, I found new outlets like writing. When it comes to things like holidays, being alone is tough but having the wonderful memories of Dad and Mom make it easier.
How Did It Inspire Me To Do Great Things?
Having a story of triumph over adversity may inspire you to do great things. And that’s terrific. But it’s also important to realize that other people are doing hard things every day. They’re struggling and making sacrifices, too, but they aren’t doing it for fame or glory.
The right thing to do is pay attention and appreciate them and then support them by sharing your own story, offering advice or just lending a sympathetic ear. By becoming aware of others’ struggles (and sharing your own), you can help everyone move forward together. And isn’t that what everyone wants?
Share Your Advice
After reading my story, people might want to know how they can do what I did. How did you manage to bounce back from adversity? What were some specific steps that helped?
People might also ask how they can apply your experience to their own lives. Here’s what I would say: Start slow and then give it everything you’ve got!
It was very important for me not to abandon my goals when things got rough. Knowing that I had so much invested in my health made it harder for me to quit or change course. I now I will not get my parents back, but I can still make them proud in my mind. Life is short people, enjoy what you have everyday.
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