MY LIFE LESSONS

            There are millions of stories and countless protagonists; some are heartbreaking and others are inspiring. We all have different stories, experiences to share, anecdotes to tell, and secrets to conceal. We walk different paths, we live different lives, and we have different aspirations. Yet, we are similar in many ways and we all aim to thrive. We’ve all gone through good and bad times; we’ve all cried, laughed, loved, and had our heart broken. 

My story is one among many, I’ve suffered and I’ve also experienced infinite joy. I’ve accomplished a few dreams, given up some, and I am still chasing others. Like everyone else, I have strengths and weaknesses; I’ve made mistakes and achieved victories. These are my experiences, everything life taught me and what I learned from others in search for a more fulfilling existence.

Have you ever asked yourself what is the purpose of life? What is your reason to be, or if it is possible to find true happiness? My search for answers is what sketched my work and these are the lessons I learned. Writing allows me to dream, dreaming gives me hope, and sharing my dreams motivates me to transform feelings into words. I hope that these lines inspire you to dream, hope, and see life differently. 

Gaby Fischer

SECOND CHANCES

If pain could kill,

I would’ve died a million times,

by drowning in my tears,

or bleeding to death from this agonizing sorrow

that cuts deep like a sharp knife.

I can’t go back in time to change the circumstances,

but I have the power to choose how to channel my pain.

I’ll cry until I run out of tears and

I’ll scream until I lose my voice,

but I won’t give up!!!

I won’t let this grief become my death sentence or make me powerless.

I know that I’ll never forget this chapter of my life,

but I also know that time will eventually ease my pain.

When the chaos settles,

this feeling of emptiness will fade away. 

I can let my mind become my worst enemy

or my best ally.

I can let my thoughts destroy me

or give me the strength I need to go on.

The choice is mine!!!

Things will never be the same, but life goes on.

When hurtful memories hunt me,

I choose faith over fear

peace instead of anger

and hope in place of despair.

John Walsh inspired me to write this poem. 

He is the epitome of resilience and an example to all of us. 
I dedicate these lines to anyone who is hurting
and needs strength to go on. 
We are ALL going through difficult times,
some more than others, 
and we need to help each other get through this. 
PLEASE share this poem with the people you love!!!

Lesson 1: The Meaning of Life

When I was a child, I had to follow the rules, but no one explained why.
I was forced to go to church, but they never told me who the man on the cross was. 

As I grew older, I was expected to behave a certain way so I could integrate into society, but I never felt like I belonged.
I was "different" because I didn’t share their philosophy or understood their way of life. To their eyes, I was a rebel without a cause.

Deep inside, I knew that there had to be more to life than material things and trivial relationships so I started to search for what I was missing.

I discovered a different God; one that was kind and didn’t collect a tithe in exchange for my redemption. I was able to open my heart because he loved me for who I was and didn’t label my faith. He became a friend, a mentor, and a guide. He gave me freedom so I could learn from my mistakes. He showed me how to cultivate my mind, body, and soul with things money can’t buy. I learned why it’s better to teach someone how to fish instead of feeding them, and I finally understood what unconditional love truly meant.

I searched within to figure out who I was, who I want to be, and what I need to do to transform. I still have a long way to go, plenty to learn, and dreams to accomplish so I don’t know how long this journey will last. Yet, I am certain that wherever this road takes me, it’s where I am meant to be.

I realized that life is what you make of it, and happiness is something you constantly need to work on. It’s not a destiny you arrive at or something you can grasp and keep. The search for happiness is what keeps you going, what gives you hope, strength, and allows you to dream. That is why, just like a state of mind, it comes and goes.

Indeed, life is NOT a fairy tale and there is no such thing as “happily ever after”. Therefore, in order to thrive, finding fulfillment should be your ultimate goal. Experiencing a meaningful existence will allow you to enjoy the good, deal with the bad, and even treasure the unimportant.

Surround yourself with things and people that bring you joy and start your own journey to discover your purpose in life.

Follow your destiny, fight for what your heart desires, and dare to dream!!!

 

 

By Gaby Fischer

Lesson 2: Philosophy of Life

Like a child, be spontaneous and sincere.
Laugh a little, and don’t take life too seriously.
However, don’t forget to exhibit responsibility and respect.
Like a philanthropist, be kind to others

and love them as they are.
Don’t try to change the world, adapt to it.
Accept yourself for who you really are,
and transform into who you want to be.
Fight for your dreams like a warrior,

focus in the moment and aim for a goal.
Don’t get caught up in the material.
Instead, put your heart into everything you do to give it value,

and center on your soul.
Use your human instinct of survival to live well,
nourish your body and treat it like a temple.
Make God a priority and love a necessity.
Only then, you’ll be able to understand and experience

the true meaning of life.

Each stage has good and bad times

because you can’t create balance

without something on each end.

You can’t find hope if you haven’t encountered despair,

you can’t enjoy happiness

if you never have experienced sadness,

and you can’t survive if you don’t learn to LIVE!!!

By Gaby Fischer

Lesson 3: Don't Stop Dreaming

Dreams rest in our souls waiting to be awakened.

Like the stars, they illuminate the hours of darkness.

Like the sun, they bring us warmth. 
 

Dreams give us hope and lift up our spirits.

Like the air we breathe, they are essential to survive.

Like the life we live, they don’t have to come to an end. 

Dreams allow us to travel with our thoughts
and experience the unimaginable.

They help us drift away from sorrow

and escape from the routine.

Dreams bring bliss to the gray days.

They sing to the heart

and their melody plays to the rhythm of its beats.

Dreams materialize emotions and portray feelings.

They reflect images of our desires
giving them shape and a voice

to give us a glimpse of what we truly long for.

Dreams allow us to create a world apart from reality

and touch the sky, even if we’ve been in hell.

They give us the power to grasp what we can’t reach

and inspire us to wish.

You don’t need to be asleep to dream,

it’s better be awake so you don’t have to wake up.

And you don’t need a reason to dream,

all you need to do is search within.

Don’t stop dreaming!

Because dreams are more than just dreams.

They are realities awaiting faith,

as miracles are dreams come true.

 

By Gaby Fischer

 

IN SEARCH FOR FULFILLMENT

There has to be more to life than this.

I am not sure what it is,

but I feel like something is missing.
 

A thousand ifs come to mind,

a few regrets,

but no answers.
 

Maybe my expectations are too great

and my dreams absurd.

Maybe my faith is too fragile

and I haven’t paid my dues.
 

Maybe I am looking in the wrong places

or searching for something that doesn’t exist.

Maybe I am waiting for what I missed.

Or perhaps, I want more than I need.

By Gaby Fischer

DESPAIR

I no longer recognize the image in the mirror,

all things are different nowadays.

Suddenly, time stopped

and I lost my way.
 

I feel as if I died inside.

Everything seems worthless;

I can only see darkness,

and I feel nothing.
 

How can I be so ungrateful?

How can I feel lonely with so many people around?

Yet, how I can pretend?

How can I live, if I feel like I’ve ceased to exist?
 

How do I replace fulfillment with pills?

How can I go on, if I can’t see the path ahead of me?

How do I let go, if I have nothing to hold onto?

How can I give my life meaning, if I can’t find a reason to be?
 

How do I end something I didn’t start?

How do I escape it, if I can’t see it?

How do I express it, if I can’t understand it?

Why can’t I feel?

Nor pain,

or joy,

just emptiness.
 

Is my sould dead?

Did my heart break?

Who am I?

How did I get here?

Where should I go next?

 

By Gaby Fischer