I've also come to appreciate that it is those things that I have survived that have formed my character.... Made me who I am today. And they are not negative characteristics that I refer to but by and large they are positive.

My tenacity, my persistence, my determination to survive, my compassion for others, my ability to have empathy for others, my righteous anger towards injustice and racism are a part of my character because of my own experiences... my own survived tragedies.

Good stuff everyone... love where this is taking people. Good medicine for building healthy pride and self-confidence that we can live through whatever comes our way and be better because of it.

Not that I'm asking for any more tragedy in my life. I'm happy to learn from past mistakes and happenings without needed new ones to come along with a new life lesson to be learned. I'm hoping my 'memory bank' will be sufficient fodder for new learning. Either way I can survive what ever comes my way.