My life has been a real roller coaster. I have experienced a lot throughout my 59 years, including the joy of becoming a mother four times, the heartbreak that came with the betrayal of my husband, and the new love that found me when I least expected it.

Over the course of my life, I have moved placed twelve times – more than anyone can imagine. But life threw curveballs along the way, and I had to find ways to overcome the challenges at the best of my ability.

That day, I was looking for the insurance contract I had placed somewhere safe, but forgot the spot.

As I was going through the old, dusty boxes that seemed like they were hiding real treasures, an old photo album caught my attention.

Its covers were nearly torn from the passage of time.

Just as I grabbed it, a photo of 19-year-old me fall on the floor. It was as though it wanted me to pick it up and see it.

I took the photo, and it instantly took me down memory lane to my childhood days, when everything seemed simple and carefree.

I remembered the day my friend Danielle took that photo. She wanted me to have it as a reminder of our friendship and the beautiful days we had.

I was wearing my favorite green top and a pair of jeans I loved so much.

Looking at the photo I thought to myself, “This Lizzy had no idea she would end up having four children, two mortgages, and a failed marriage.” With a smile on my face I though, “But she could also hardly assume that love would find her again at 42.”

I felt nostalgic and remembered that life was hard now. But then, I looked at the back of the photo and my heart paced. There was a little note written my handwriting. It read: “Stay strong, Lizzy. Never let life break your spirit.”

“Oh, my,” I thought to myself. I realized that although life didn’t turn out exactly as I anticipated when I was a teenager, I didn’t fail myself. Indeed, I managed to stay strong and never let life break me, not even when I lost my cheating husband and my home – more than once.

My old self would be proud of the strong woman I remained to be despite the challenges and all the obstacles that stood on my way.

That photo album and the old photo were the perfect reminder that my strength and resilience has shaped who I am today.

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