Lesson #1: Scars

Scars are not meant to deface us, they are meant to define. They’re reminders of our journey, the struggles we have endured and overcome. They build character and strength. They cut, bend, and shape us to be our future selves. Scars remind us to cherish what we have. Not only are they reminders but life lessons as well. They teach us not to take advantage, not to underestimate. They instill wisdom and test limits. Scars are both exterior and interior. What one sees on the outside, another feels on the inside. A map from the past, leading to the future. Each scar is connected with a feeling: achievement, excitement, fear, anger. These feelings are what give definition, what define who we are.

Each scar holds a different meaning, an experience to grow from. The scar on my left ankle, a result of a shaving mishap at the age of 12, taught me to be more cautious, razors tend to be sharp. The scar on the front of my left leg, due to a curling iron drop, taught me that curling one’s hair is not something to be taken lightly; it is in fact a complex activity.

The scars that taught me the greatest lessons though are those most visible, the biggest. The ones that just don’t seem to fade as fast.

The scar across my right knee, the product of collision, taught me that hard work does pay off. Each day toward a set goal may be a struggle. It might hurt like hell. But one day it won’t hurt as much, and that goal that seemed unreachable becomes achievable. The scar down the center of my stomach, a result due to the seat belt, taught me not to take life for gradated; any second could be your last. You must cherish every moment. The scar stretching across my nose, from the impact of the airbag, taught me that the most important part of beauty is not on the outside, it is what shines through from within. The scars on my left hand, due to the shattered windows, taught me that life can go in any direction you want it to. You just have to have faith and take things into your own hands.

My scars define me as a fighter, a survivor. My scars are what give me strength and remind me that I myself am capable of overcoming anything. My scars are what tell my story, the story of who I am.