To life's adversity, thank you.

To the challenges, the ones I hated in the moment, I am beyond grateful. They became invaluable.

Those moments that forced me to be more than I was.

Step out before I was ready so that I could arm myself for the path that was meant for me.

Thank you to those times I was afraid.

You taught me that the darkness is never as bad as our thoughts make them out to be.

And when we learn to trust ourselves, we realize that fear becomes strength.

Thank you to those times I fell short of expectations, the times I didn't quite hit the mark.

You taught me that it's not about me. It's not personal.

It's about taking that awareness and going at it again

more intelligently. Thank you to the times I felt alone. The times I didn't get the support

I hoped for or anticipated. You did two. Reenforce the value of an effective,

committed team, but you also emphasize that if that candle is going to stay lit, it's

going to be because I commit to keeping it lit. And when tempted to point out and blame the external world, I must pause, reassess and focus on

the world within.

Thank you to those times of stagnation, the valleys of despair or of uncertainty, you reminded me that momentum has to

be manufactured. And the answers we need are never big or complex. They are small and they are

simple. We are always one step away from getting back on track. Thank you to the unexpected setbacks.

The from out of nowhere obstacles, you taught me that the trials and the tribulations,

they are not the exception, they are the rule.

That success isn't running from them but learning to deal with them.

There's a saying that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.

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