Victim or Victor: My Love Story Comes With Adversity

Dear Readers,

This Valentine's Day, some things triggered in me unexpectedly.

I found myself having thoughts of my past that were (and, sometimes still are)  adversities I've had to face in my life story.  Automatically, a rush of emotions comes up like a shot  to the heart when I get memories of ways I was mistreated or dealt with unjustly.  In fact, it's not the treatment itself that get's me so down.  It's more so the system or calling in life that just lends itself towards that type of friction or circumstance when shared with other humans.

In my experience, adversity comes in community or relationship with others.  Whether it's a working relationship or a marriage, you are at the mercy of how someone else chooses to treat you. Everyone has their own emotions and motives.  Especially, if you are new to each other in the relationship, you really do not know what to expect or how to handle all circumstances.

Well, for me, I haven't always been treated very fairly.  

I have worked a total of 24 jobs in my lifetime (including pre-career jobs like my two jobs since I was 12 and 4 jobs in college).  I have taken on many leadership roles since grade school to after college.  And, I come from a family of seven, moved 5-6 times in 10 years, and raise a family of my own with my husband who I have been married to for almost 11 years.

I've faced a lot  of friction and adversity in the past- majority of it out of my control. For a long time, I thought I was a victim of it all and it really made me sad and angry to think about.  Now, as I love the woman the Lord has grown me to be, I can't really play the victim anymore.

I truly have had a heart shift and feel more like the victor- with a champion life story.

This Valentine's day I have had a surge in me that wasn't ashamed of my past, but thankful for it.

Every mistreatment, injustice, and "taken advantage of " moment has taught me

healthier boundaries, honesty, integrity, growth in character, and accountability.  I am more passionate about my life goals and time.  I am always refining my style of professionalism and leadership.

As memories of my past flooded my heart this Valentine's day, I finally felt like a 

Bad *ss B*tch in face of it.

I thank the good Lord for taking my heart and molding me to have more of a warrior mentality  to life.

Happy Belated Valentine's Everyone!

Love. Always,

Crystal