Ted Talk: How the worst moments in our lives make us who we are
MasonOnLeadershipLink to Ted Talk: Andrew Solomon
A moving story of triumph about “forging meaning, building identity…and then inviting the world to share your joy”.
My narrative of triumph:
I grew up in a household - with what I came to understand - contained a bipolar parent. At a very young age I learned to “pay attention”. I began intentionally trying to manage situations in hopes of minimizing behavior swings that quite frankly could not be fully anticipated. Most days it was futile. Every day it was exhausting.
I vividly remember thinking this burden was not fair. Why can’t I have a normal childhood? was a reoccurring question. Or in simplest terms: why me? I had no way of knowing then that normal exists only on a relative continuum, and that this experience would become an incredible gift.
I can no longer imagine my life unfolding differently. As Andrew Solomon shares in his Ted Talk, “it makes what was wrong precious”.
Be careful what you think is a burden and what you think is a gift. Because one can very well become the other, and vice versa.
Reader Comments (1)
I could actually re-write these very words coming from an alcoholic, abusive home.... particularly... "At a very young age I learned to “pay attention”. I began intentionally trying to manage situations in hopes of minimizing behavior swings that quite frankly could not be fully anticipated. Most days it was futile. Every day it was exhausting. "