What I've learned here

Even though I say that I hate living here, I have learned some great things while here. And honestly, this was the perfect place to be my "stepping stone". It was easy to get on my feet here, once I figured out I wanted to go to school, things just seemed to fall into place. But now I am at a stand still, so it's time to move on.

1. One of the most important things i learned to do was learning how to drive! So I was a little late with this one, learned when I was 26. Thats probably one of the most liberating things anyone can learn to do.
2. I came to the conclusion years ago that I wouldn't live very long (not sure why), so I didn't make any plans for my future. What I learned here is that I do have a future and people that depend on me (my kids). So I went to college, goofed off for a couple of years, then kicked it into full gear to get it over with. I didn't see college as an option before moving here, but it was easier to do than I imagined. 
3. There are some things that I wanted to sort of prove to myself when I first moved here. I wanted to prove to myself that I can do this without any help. Ha! What was I thinking? That was a HARD lesson I had to learn. It's alright to ask for help, it doesn't mean that I'm weak. It just means that I am smart enough to admit to myself that I am not superhuman.
4. Since moving here as a newly single person, I was so wrapped up in my previous relationship that I lost myself. I learned who I am, what I like/dislike, and that I am not perfect. 
5. As my years here ticked on by, things got a little out of control in my life. I thought I needed some fun and excitement, but ended up doing nothing but getting myself into trouble. So I had to take a step back (more like a leap back!). I learned that fun doesn't always have to involve alcohol and clubs.
6. One thing I absolutely am happy that I have learned is that when you pray and you're sincere, your prayers are answered. They may not be answered the way you want them to be, but they are still answered. I needed to be strong enough to get myself out of the mess I had gotten into, get away from people that weren't good for me, and know that I am worth much more than I gave myself credit for.
7. I am glad that I was able to experience a true friendship while I was here. The friendships I had before this "real" one were VERY toxic. Not that the people were bad, we were just bad for each other I suppose. So I learned what it is to have a true friend that cares about my well-being and doesn't hang around me for their entertainment; a friend that saw how hurt I was and helped nurse me back to not only good health, but good spiritual health as well.
8. I am still in the process of learning this one, just because I am so skeptical. I'm learning that there IS a such thing as a good man. He may not be what my idea (materialistically) of what a good man is, but there are men out there with good hearts. And the skeptic in me wants so badly to go and delete what I just typed LOL. But, I am still learning:)
9. I think the most important thing I have learned here is that no matter how bad things get, how hectic it is, how horribly you think of yourself, you can be forgiven. There's no better time to start on the right(eous) path than now.