HOPE For A Woman With A Stained Past - A Life Reflection

Are there times in your busy life that you stop and recall what your life was ten years ago?  Did you ever tell yourself, “I’m glad I did w...

Are there times in your busy life that you stop and recall what your life was ten years ago?  Did you ever tell yourself, “I’m glad I did what I did because if not, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”  My answers to both questions are: YES.   That’s why, I’m writing this post today.

I admit and I am not ashamed to say that I wasn’t a goody and tamed kind of girl.  I could pass the kind of a lady that a mom of a boyfriend wouldn’t approve of for her son.  Young.  Wild.  Free.  That’s how I lived my life back then.  But don’t get me wrong, even when I was #YOLO-ing, I was careful, I had contingency plans should I break and fall, and I had the courage to take full responsibility of my actions.

The Past.
Ten years ago, I already had my son from a previous marriage.  Yup you read that correctly, I was married all for the wrong reasons (but that marriage didn’t last long hence was annulled in 2008).  I just recently recovered from a near-death childbirth experience.  My son was just four months old.  I was jobless, didn’t have money and stayed at home. I didn’t have a mobile phone like everyone else in my circle of friends did.  I didn’t have full support from friends.  I was in a marriage I didn’t want in the first place.   My life took a 180 degree turn, and I thought I was stuck in that miserable life back then.  I thought I didn’t have any choice but to just accept, because I said, “This is the consequence of my actions, I should live with it.”

Road to Moving Forward.
I found hope for myself each time I looked at my child’s big round eyes.  The fighter in me rose above everything else and convinced me to overcome my insecurities and fear, to clearly focus on what I deserve, to continue dreaming and to aspire for a quality of life that I want for myself and my son.  I looked for a job after he turned one year old.  I said to my ex, that I had enough.  I gathered the courage to get out of the marriage that was nearly rotting me and probably my son’s future.   I slowly got my life back together and started to commune with my new self again.  I treated myself better.  I became a better parent to my son.  I performed well in my job. 

The road to moving forward had its hits and misses.  I turned to God while going through all these.  I searched for Him and finally found him when I served in our church as a choir member.  During this time God gave me a good friend who at that time also had troubles with the matters of heart.  But while he was going through his own relationship battles a hundred fingers were pointed at me for being the culprit of his failed relationship, so I decided to disappear.  I reconciled with my ex-husband, but unfortunately, it didn’t work again.  A year later, I crossed paths with this good friend at the time when we were both free.  We never separated since then.

Reflections.
Looking back if I just took in what little was given to me, then, I didn’t love enough and give value to myself.  I would still be miserably living a life I didn’t want - A life that our society (spell relatives) expects a married woman to live. 

If I focused on those judgmental remarks, comments, rumors, and harsh opinions of people about my life, I would have not been happily in love now.  My life wouldn’t be as complete and perfectly imperfect right now.

If I put a limit to myself and wasn’t courageous enough to improve and invest on myself (work, education, talents and skills), then I wouldn’t be contributing to the good performance of my work team, I wouldn’t be able to support my parents, I wouldn’t be sending my sons to good schools and you wouldn’t be reading this post today.

LIFE Lessons.
LIFE is what you make of it.  It is clearly up to you to deteriorate or invigorate it.  We all have our ups and downs.  People will never stop having opinions and judgment about you, dismiss them.  It’s your life.  You don’t owe anybody any explanation.  Eliminate people that drag you down.  Keep those who sincerely support and help you become a better person.  Never think that you cannot accomplish something, just continue dreaming.  Don’t focus on bitterness and hatred towards people who judged you, forgive them. 

Your past do not determine what your future will be.  Work everyday on becoming a better version of yourself at present.  Don't let people who doubt and judge you limit you from creating a brighter future.  Keep on moving forward my friend.
Yes, I did have a badly stained past - I almost died.  My first marriage was a failure.  I became a single mom.  I was broke (spell no money at all).  People harshly judged me even if they don't know me personally and what I've been through.

But my failure and other challenging life experiences motivated me to become STRONGER, BETTER, WISER, HUMBLE, and FORGIVING.  I didn't give up on myself.  I didn't lose hope.  I didn't let depression take over me.  I prayed hard to God to help me get through each day while I was fixing my life.  He has given me so much, more than what I prayed for.  Sometimes I think I am not worthy.  So now that I am WHO I have become TODAY because I made my YESTERDAY motivate me to create my better FUTURE, I give it all back to HIM.  I am thankful for this blog for it has become a channel for me to reach out to people who may have gone through, or still is going through, what I've been through.

I pray, if you're reading this and is currently in a difficult life circumstance, whatever it may be, DO NOT LOSE HOPE.  May my life story inspire you to pick up the broken pieces, put them all together and fix them.  Don't give your past the power to rule over your life and how you live it.  Let it go.  Forgive yourself.  Pray.  LIVE!

Photo Credits:
Spotless Future
Don't Judge Past
Keep Calm. Move Forward

You Might Also Like

22 comments

  1. Sheena Mamaril MalateMarch 13, 2014 at 3:26 PM

    Thanks for this very timely and inspiring post Sis! I am deeply encouraged by your post like a glimpse of hope. Thank you very much! You are such a blessing! *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Sheena.. I really do hope and pray that life will be better for everyone. People could be really harsh no? Don't mind them, just keep on moving forward. :) God bless you! Thank you for your sweet words. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Goosebumps! That was a wonderful post! Honest but full of hope. Props to you for choosing to focus on moving forward. God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hugs, Louise! I am a firm believer that there is always room in life for second chances, both given and received. I, too, wouldn't be where I am today, would definitely not be the wife and mom that I am today, if not for a challenging past, amazingly crazy obstacles, people and experiences who are best forgotten, but were so very real. The important part is that we learn our lessons and we learn them well. Then all of a sudden we find ourselves on the sweet side of life again before we know it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't believe on what I have read mommy Louise,, you are such an inspiration..Thank you for this post.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cecil of mommywisebabywise.comMarch 14, 2014 at 4:58 AM

    What we become is what we see ourselves in the future. Your such a brave woman

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you very much @TheMissusV! Have a great day! :-D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes Patty.. Some past experiences are best forgotten. I managed to forget already until a recent episode reminded me of these harsh judgements thrown at me. Hence, that incident inspired me to write this post. At least I know I'm so much on the sweeter sideof the world! :-D

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Jocris, believe. :-D Thank you for taking time to read my post and I am happy that you find this (my life) inspiring. God bless! :-D

    ReplyDelete
  10. A great and inspiring post not just for all the women out there but for everyone experiencing dark times in their lives. All things, too, shall pass. And after all the storms, you will become better than you were before. Happy for you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks so much Michelle for taking time to read my inspiring post to women who's going through or have been through hard times. I just want to send a message to them that there's hope! And yes I agree.. it will pass! :D Thank you dear! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Camille Duque AguilaMarch 15, 2014 at 12:39 AM

    You have become more than what you wanted to be. You've been an inspiration to a lot of women out there already. God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow this is really an inspiring read. (esp for a single mom like me) :) Thank you & God bless. I hope I can be successful like you in the future. ☺

    ReplyDelete
  14. I really agree with you that mistakes from the past doesn't mean that we will have a bad present and future. Instead of dwelling on negativity, it is better to use it as a challenge and motivation. I salute you for being strong! <3

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautifully
    written. It's true our past doesn't have to dictate our future. Our
    future is not defined by our past.Thanks for sharing. Blessings on you.:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Mommy Louise!
    Beautifully written. It's true our past doesn't have to dictate our
    future. Our future is not defined by our past.Thanks for sharing.
    Blessings on you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks so much sis Joy for reading through my post! I just really want to be able to inspire women and moms who may have gone through or is still going through what I've been through to keep on moving forward and make today the better version of themselves! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you so much for your kind words Kareen! I hope to be able to inspire women and moms through this post.:) God bless! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Louise! Thank you for this entry. I admire your COURAGE for letting go of your past, for moving forward to start anew, and of course for writing and sharing this. :) I love stories of people who have bounced back from past mistakes and failures. For me, these are the most inspiring stories of all. May God bless you more. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. May De Jesus-PalacpacMarch 16, 2014 at 7:08 PM

    I agree, your past should not define your future. I, too, had a troubled past. In fact it's published online - here, when you find time -- http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/12204/moment-february-1998. And just like you, it was turning to God that I have learned how to rise above. Thank you for sharing your story. :) hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for sharing your life and how you found hope again in God. It is because of women like you that others can have the strength to go on. God bless you!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your wonderful comment!

INSTAGRAM @mommypracticality




FOLLOW @MOMMYPRACTICALITY ON INSTAGRAM



Mommy Practicality is a home and lifestyle blog that's about positive, informative, 
inspirational and helpful sharing of life experiences of a working mom 
with topics on motherhood, relationships, events, food, travel, shopping, and finances. 
It hopes to influence moms and women to realize 
that it's possible to live a quality life while choosing a practical lifestyle.



Receive all updates via Facebook. Just Click the Like Button Below

Powered By Blogger Widgets