My journey started at a young age. My first near-death experience happened at 3 months old, followed by events that some would define hard, tragic, and even unfair.
My take on it is a bit different. I could focus on “what happened to me” or “how I overcame it”. I could go on for hours. My life is somewhat short, but certainly quite eventful!
Focus on what you have – everything is wonderful in the spirit of gratitude.
I will, instead, focus on the tools I was given since birth to be able to withstand adversity, to survive the unsurvivable, achieve the impossible…
Encouraged ~ I attribute my confidence and thirst for achievement to my parents’ belief in me and their conviction I could do more and be more. My father’s vision on what I could become was contagious. Their unconditional support is an ongoing fuel that fires my desire to never give up, no matter how rough.
Inspired ~ It is no chance that the word of God is written. My mother encouraged us to read the Bible, as well as self-development books. She always delighted us with motivational lyrics that went beautifully with her voice. Those words, those lyrics, those messages, still resonate with me when things seem to go wrong and allow me to go on.
Instructed ~ I treasure my parents’ dedication in taking the time to have meaningful conversation with me, teach me right from wrong, and instill essential values in me. I look back and am in awe at how many times in trying to not disappoint my parents, I avoided horrible, even fatal mishaps. Sometimes I didn’t really understand why I should or shouldn’t do something in particular, I just knew “I knew better”.
Structured ~ Whomever said “you never understand your parents until you become one” was flat out right! Being a mom helps me understand my mom in so many levels. She was the main disciplinarian and I realize that is not a fun task to overtake. She made sure we got things done and we did them right and on time. I don’t know a truly successful person that ignores those ingredients. Having this foundation in my early years really set me up to be an achiever.
Guided ~ I am an ordinary person with extraordinary faith. I take no credit for what may seem my achievements other than following a guided path and being up for the bumpy ride. I don’t claim to have clairvoyance or supernatural powers. I know that “my” creativity, intuition, resourcefulness and inspiration has come from the divine and I am thankful.
Forgiven ~ Nothing is sweeter than the taste of forgiveness. I have received forgiveness from our Heavenly Father when going astray, forgiveness from my loved ones when I was less than perfect, forgiveness from myself when I realize I am part of a bigger picture and that was written in the plan. How about the forgiveness we extend to others? If I had a dictionary, forgiveness would be a synonym of freedom. Truly a miraculous experience.
Loved ~ Having encouragement, inspiration, structure, guidance, instruction and forgiveness throughout my days shows me how loved I have been, even when it didn’t really seem like so. Love takes many shapes and forms and some can seem quite undesirable. The love of my family, the love of my friends, the love of my children…what more could I ask for?
Blessed ~ I cannot pinpoint a single event, a single moment. I define my life as a collection of miracles. Though perhaps my wealth is invisible to many, I have been given so much! My treasure is every day I experience, every day I can breathe, everyday I can feel my daughters’ embrace.
As you see, my story, is NOT my story. It’s the story of the many miracles that have been manifested in my life. The story of many angels of kindness, my family and my extended family, transformed tragedy into miracle.
Elayna is a single mom of 4, award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 4x TEDx speaker. Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results, so you can have the wealth, opportunities, and freedom you deserve. Connect with Elayna Fernández at thepositivemom.com/keynote-speaker and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.
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