Accident or Opportunity?
Life-defining moments
They can be subtle, jarring or agonizing.
What matters is who we become because of them.
Have you ever had an awful experience that helped you decide the kind of person you wanted to be?
I had one of those moments the summer before my 15th birthday.
On a spring night in Edmonton, Alberta, I had just turned off the TV when I felt a strong urge to join my mom on her upcoming trip.
We would drive our old black Buick to Dawson Creek to visit her friend's farm in the Peace Country where I was born. Getting back to the fresh country air was a much-needed escape from the lacklustre city.
We left our log home nestled at mile 22 along the Alaska Highway when I was just five years old – yet the enchanting sound of frogs croaking, the gentle rhythm of horses swatting away summer flies, and the melodic singing crickets, called me back.
Our log cabin built by my Mom and Dad near Dawson Creek, BC.
When I asked my Mom why she chose to spend her limited free time working on a farm rather than relaxing, she said the other option was a $35 meditation retreat, which she couldn’t afford with four kids and two dogs.
We pulled up to the sprawling acreage with a small yellow rectangle house built around an old tree and were greeted by spitting lamas.
The weekend included movies, farm chores, spontaneous sermons on hell-fire and damnation, and deep conversations between them — about me. Her friend was determined to hit me over the head with the bible, if need be, to get me back on ‘track.’
My mom, on the other hand, knew that I was a difficult teenager searching – for my identity and life purpose.
On Sunday, while grilling steaks, I tried to ignore uneasy feelings. The barn clock read, 5 pm.
We had one last chore to complete before dinner…
My mom recovered from a broken shoulder, pelvis, and other injuries over time by walking with our husky/wolf dog Jet.
The accident showed me how fear and desperation can cloud our judgment. Out of fear of losing everything, her friend lied, causing pain in our lives for over a decade and possibly leading to the cancer that took her own life.
That experience made me stronger. I won’t pretend it didn't hurt or frustrate me; it did. But, once I faced those feelings, healing came.
As a yogi, I practice putting myself in the other person’s shoes. As a result, I see that she either didn’t have the skills to take responsibility for her mistake or she lacked the courage.
It's a powerful reminder to openly admit when we’re wrong and genuinely strive to make amends for our mistakes.
Acknowledging our faults not only shows strength of character but also fosters growth and understanding in our relationships with others.
Jet- Husky Wolf