Christina Ranee
Jul 20, 2017 · 3 min read

They say that “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”. I don’t necessarily agree with that. Some things that didn’t kill me, came so close they are still damaging me. In a sense, “killing me” slowly. They didn’t make me better. Some things made me worse. But can’t that be ok too? Can’t some things just break you? Unfortunately you don’t get to choose the events that come your way or the sorrows that interrupt your life. They will likely catch you off guard and unprepared. To suffer, that is something everyone will go through at some point in life. But to suffer and still keep your composure, your faith, and your smile….that is remarkable. Pain is something that changes a person more profoundly than success. It shapes your perception of life, your values and priorities, your goals and your dreams. Pain changes you. But in reality, it’s the things that did kill me, that made me me. I’ve learned that everything is temporary…moments, people, feelings, flowers. I learned love is about giving everything and letting it hurt. That vulnerability is always the right choice because it is easy to be cold in a world that makes it so very difficult to be soft.

The truth is, we all have our vices, attitudes and way of doing things that make us unique. None of us are easy to date, deal with, or please all the time. Because of all the pain and suffering and events that “didn’t kill” us, finding love isn’t always perfect or practical. It isn’t a fairytale or storybook. And it doesn’t always come easy or appear on command. It doesn’t let you fall for whomever you’d like. It surfaces neither at the most opportune moment nor in the most convenient. And it will most likely pair you with someone you might never have expected. This is life, and it isn’t easy, or about finding the perfect person, there’s no such thing. It isn’t about living some happily ever after fairytale. It’s about finding someone you’re willing to work for, and who is willing to work for you. Love is work, but most of all, love is realizing that every hour, every minute, and every second was worth it because you did it together. It’s simple, yet so hard to achieve.

But one day, it just clicks. You realize what’s important and what isn’t. That sometimes, the darkest times can bring us to the the brightest places. The most heartbreaking losses of friendship and love can make room for the most wonderful people. You realize how far you’ve come and you remember when you thought things were such a mess that you would never recover. And you smile. You smile because you are truly proud of yourself and the person you’ve fought to become.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” -Elizabeth Kubler Ros

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Christina Ranee

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“She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible. She walked with the universe on her shoulders and made it look like a pair of wings”