Crazy Hip Blog Mamas is hosting a carnival with the topic of “Proudest Accomplishment.” The first thing that came to my mind, as I am sure it would a lot of mothers, is my kids. I have always wanted children and they are the highlight of my life. They bring me new moments to be proud (and not so proud!) everyday. Since CHBM IS a webring of mothers, I figured I should step out a little bit and think a tad further.

I can think of papers that I have written and aced, test I have passed, and other inordinate situations I have overcome, but none alone seemed worthy of earning the title of my “proudest accomplishment.” My mind even started to wander- thinking things like, “What have you done with your life? Have you accomplished nothing worth mentioning?”

Then I settled on my answer. My proudest accomplishment is being me. I have never, ever been one to choose the easy path. Most of the time it may look like I am bucking up against norm just for the sake of it, but I am not. I try to walk the path that is right for me.

Since I was a child, I never felt like I fit in anywhere and I still feel that way a lot. I am a middle of the road type of person and that makes it really hard to decide which side of the street I should occasionally stop and relax. I have beliefs that fall on both sides of the road. All the way up to a few years ago, I let myself be swayed by whatever group I was hanging around with because it was easy and comfortable. A lot of times I was not being true to who I was.

Like most people I have overcome some really difficult things in my life. Having resilience to overcome those tribulations and use the lessons to my advantage is something I consider an accomplishment. The life lessons I have learned help me relate to many people and often be able to offer help to them. If I was easy to classify, then it might not be this way.

It has been a struggle to get where I am, and I did it by swimming up stream most of the way. I didn’t follow the exact path my parents set me upon. I haven’t allowed even those closest to me change my core beliefs, even if it is very different than theirs. I respect them and have gained the same.

In the end, it’s the small things I do that make the difference. They add up like a tower made up of bricks. The lessons I teach my children, the advice I give my friends, the personal choices I make each add on to the tower of impact I leave this world. Without the struggles and search for the real me, I am not so sure I would have so many bricks to build this tower.

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Update: Just say down to watch recording of Oprah. Guess what she is talking about? Finding and being true and proud of yourself. Weird? I think not! Great minds think alike!

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