Is it all of the wonderful experiences we have had in ours lives? Is it the love of our friends and family? Is it the laughter and joy we have found along the way?The answer is yes; it is these positive experiences that make us who we are today. And... it is also how we have lived through and survived the tougher times. Our ability to cope with and learn from the myriad challenges in our lives can give us an inner strength, building a depth of wisdom that adds dimension to the patina to our souls.
This is best summarized by a quote that I shared with participants in my recent grief and loss workshop. These are words of wisdom from Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, one of the pioneers in the field of grief and loss.
"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."
