Rooted in Life

I have escaped death twice. Yes that’s right. I was a result of an affair. For this reason, my mom had made the decision to have an abortion. My grandma was a strict Catholic and had 12 children. My mom was the oldest of the 12. My grandma said “over my dead body will you have an abortion.” They decided that when I was born I would go home with my grandma from the hospital. My mom changed her mind upon birth and that’s a whole other story. For now, on to my 2nd time escaping death.

I was 16 years old. It was a normal day in April. I had told my grandma that I was going to the Mall after school that day. A friend needed a ride home so I said I could bring her home and then my other friend and I would go after dropping her off. We were on my friend’s road, jamming to DMX Ruff Ryder’s Anthem. I was going back and forth with the steering wheel to the song when all of a sudden my back left tire caught the gravel. We flipped front to back then rolled several times. I and the passenger were ejected out the passenger side window. My friend that was in the back flew out the rear window. We were very close to my house when this happened. My uncle went to the scene of the accident and was told the driver was not going to make it. Obviously, here I am.

Im sharing this because every year that I celebrate my birthday I go back to these two experiences. I think about how because my mom chose life, Im here. I thank her on my birthday every year for choosing life.

I think about how I was going down the wrong path as a teenager and my accident was divine intervention.

I believe that trauma changes us whether we want it to or not, but confronting the trauma is necessary to move forward. I have been thru a lot of bad but believe you have to experience the bad stuff to even know what the good stuff is.

I also believe when it’s your time to go, you will go. I spend my days not trying to escape death or aging, but honoring the body I have been given. Treating it with nutrition, love, and grace because it’s all I have. We are given one body. I welcome every year I get because each year has been amazing. I learn so much about myself and about others. I welcome the hard times because truthfully that’s when I feel the most growth. I am still becoming who Im meant to be and I really do love every minute of it. I encourage you to really think about how lucky you are to be alive. It is a gift that I will forever be grateful for. I will continue to take care of myself for me, but also so I can continue to be there for everyone who needs the gifts I have to share.