Today in our series Life Uncorked: Inspiring Truths from Everyday People, Drinking the Whole Bottle brings you Terrill Martinez. Terrill is a former teacher and published author of the children’s book, Super Me!  I met Terrill at our new school and when I found out that she was a fellow writer / author and that our daughters were in the same class, I felt this cosmic sensation like maybe this move to Mexico was conspiring in my favor as a writer.* So without further ado…

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Terrill – mother of two crazy-fun girls and board member of the Junior League of Guadalajara volunteer group – on thanking disappointment, honoring your gifts, and our responsibility to one another.

LIFE UNCORKED: INSPIRING TRUTHS FROM EVERYDAY PEOPLE

True happiness exists in not just surviving your struggles, but realizing they are temporary. Embrace the fact that all struggles are actually growth opportunities. Not only can you survive, you can thrive through even the most difficult challenges. Be bold, look disappointment in the eye and thank it. That’s right, I said thank it for the opportunity it presents you with. Everything you face and overcome provides you with an opportunity to help others down the road.

Don’t beat yourself up if you are not creating great works. Creativity lives in several different forms, even in just thinking of new ways to perform a mundane task. By taking time to listen to and honor our creativity, we show ourself love and honor the gifts we’ve been given.

Your problems are valid. But helping others who are dealing with survival issues makes you grateful for everything you have. Helping someone without the expectation of getting anything back and believing in our responsibility for one another is a practice I want to pass on to my children. I truly believe I can make a difference and I want my children to believe it too.

 

If you are in a situation that you cannot handle or get out of, find a way to focus on the positive. Every person and situation has something that can teach you about humankind and yourself.

A conversation with a girlfriend over a glass of wine is like an hour of therapy. We need each other to get through daily trials, as well as the devastating curveballs life inevitably throws at us. No one will understand you, support you or believe in you like true friends. So find your tribe and honor that bond.

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Notes

*conspiring in my favor is a term from one of my favorite books, The Alchemist, that refers to how the universe is always conspiring to help you.