STEP

Looking back on your life The experiences and mistakes we make from birth until the moment of awareness can help us take the next Step with confidence and direction. We all become aware of who we are at different times in our life. Once we reach the moment of awareness, we are granted an opportunity to control our future. So, look back on your life knowing that you cannot change what has happen but decipher each experience positive or negative. Times of struggle and chaos are when we learn the most. So, appreciate the issues that have caused us the most pain because this is where we catapult to the next highest levels. I often reflect on my past when I am experiencing struggles in my life. My father is deceased but one of the moments in my past that stay with me is when my dad would take our family to the Italian restaurant Bona Corso in California. I believe the food was good the atmosphere was pleasant. This is all because the time we spent at that restaurant awakens my memory of family togetherness, fun and good eats. This is what motivates me to take my family out to dinner, on field trips and motivates me to make their birthdays and holidays special. People say life is short and we should live everyday knowing that time is limited. I say life never ends it just transcends, so live as you learn. Once you become aware, that is the moment to be aware and live life, awake and active. Furthermore, my siblings and I sometime talk and laugh about the spankings we received from our parents. Back when we were experiencing the direct pain it was not so funny. I know those spankings helped me to be the son, friend, father, brother, husband man that I am today. I learned from those spankings, so when I started my family I spanked my son also. I remember one incident when I spanked my son and I left a bruise on his leg, it changed me as a father. This was a learned behavior, which my parents taught me. I changed my way of thinking. I made a pact with my son that I would not put my hands on him ever again. From that moment on I decided that I would talk to my children and stop spanking them, and spend quality time with them. Every problem we experienced, we came to a trusted agreement. I learned that in the process of talking to my children it would give me a chance to observe them and build relationships with them. I had to make a choice to change my behavior. I did this so that I could teach my children a different way to communicate with their children. My son was a handful as a young child. I am a changed man for the better because of my children. I said all of that to say this, look back from time to time and learn from your experiences that will help you grow to help the world be a better place. If you cannot change you will not grow. A tree was once a seed; think about all of the changes the tree experienced before becoming a tree. Think about the weather the tree experiences in its life time, and yet the tree still stands. Can you be that tree?