Prompt: Write about the worst or best day in your life.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. –Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Life. Oh Charles, you sure do know how to write what I feel. I love Charles Dickens.
What if the best day is actually the worst day? And what if the worst day is actually the best day? And what if the best/worst day is the reason for the worst/best day?
Because that was my experience.
The day I got married was the best day of my life. Or so I thought. I was so happy. He had made me his queen, put me on a pedestal, and for the first time in my life, I felt joy over everything else. I knew it wasn’t quite what I wanted, but he promised that someday, I could have the wedding of my dreams with all of my family there. My gut was saying “slow down,” but I knew better than to trust myself. Bad decisions weren’t a stranger to me. No matter the fact that my friends were also saying “slow down.” 2 years working together and 2 months of dating. I just knew. He was PERFECT.
We all know how that ended.
Choked, thrown down the stairs, arm torn to shreds and toppled over the balcony railing. I thought it was the absolute worst day of my life. I had never been so hurt, so humiliated, so devastated. I didn’t have anyone, no family here, no friends anymore. He had seen to that. I had to move into a dirty shelter with drug-addicted, dirty women and their families. I had officially hit rock bottom.
One of the Last Family Pictures We Took
But that day began my healing journey. That day brought life and worth to me. Things that I had been missing since childhood were revealed. I became so grateful for the children I bore with him. I learned that I was responsible for my life, that I am not a victim of my circumstances. I began getting better. I began to realize what was important. I began to value myself. Slowly yes, but without that day, none of it would have happened.
On that solid foundation of rock bottom, we have built a life of friendships, freedom, adventures, peace, and love. And I am so incredibly thankful for the worst/best and best/worst days of my life so far…
Wow! Powerful story. Thanks for sharing Shannon!
Thanks Tikeetha! It took me a bit to figure out what to do with that prompt.