hands holding a butterfly

In My Life

From the archive3 min read

From the Inspire21 archive, collected since 2000. Original author often unknown. About our story labels

— By Rick Beneteau

In My Life I have savored the sweetness of Victory.

In My Life I have been Vanquished and know too well the bitter taste of Defeat.

In My Life I have been so overwhelmed with Joy that I thought I could not contain it.

In My Life I have been so overwrought with Sorrow that I believed I could not bear another moment of it.

In My Life I have Believed so strongly that no person or circumstance could impair my conviction.

In My Life I have Doubted so deeply that a single criticism could sway my belief.

In My Life I have been so Optimistic there wasn’t a single dream of mine that I was not convinced I could make a reality.

In My Life I have been so Discouraged that I dare not dream.

In My Life I have lived with Hope and been magnificently empowered.

In My Life I have been Hopeless and rendered powerless.

In My Life I have enjoyed Abundance where I felt no person or circumstance could ever take away my worldly possessions.

In My Life I have lost all my worldly possessions and been humbled by destitution.

In My Life I have recklessly Judged and caused great pain for others.

In My Life I have felt the brutal sting of being Judged.

In My Life I have been Admired so ardently that it was almost embarrassing.

In My Life I have been Despised so deeply that I felt like crawling away and hiding.

In My Life I have Apologized and felt the amazing healing.

In My Life I have Forgiven and felt the amazing freedom.

In My Life I have flown with Angels and felt the true comfort they brought.

In My Life I have danced with the Devil, delving into shameful worldly temptations.

In My Life I have bathed in the pure calm of Peace.

In My Life I have endured the calamity of Chaos.

In My Life I have been Charitable and made a difference in someone’s life.

In My Life I have accepted Charity that made a difference in my life.

In My Life I have been Selfish and made a difference to one.

In My Life I have Compromised and created a better outcome.

In My Life I was too ignorant to know when Compromise was a good thing and there was no outcome at all.

In My Life I have been a Hero - to my partner, to my children, to my parents, to my siblings, to my friends, and to strangers.

In My Life I have acted Cowardly - towards my partner, my children, my parents, my siblings, my friends, and strangers.

In My Life I have been willing to Sacrifice for the greater good.

In My Life I have been so reluctant to risk my Security that I missed so much goodness.

In My Life I have learned that I will never do wrong by doing anything for the right reason.

In My Life I have learned that I will never be right by doing anything for the wrong reason.

In My Life I have discovered that the greater Good doesn’t always feel good.

In My Life I have discovered that when the greater Good was not my goal, nothing good was accomplished.

Now, may I ask …

In Your Life …

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© Rick Beneteau

Rick is an award-winning author, highly respected Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of the humanitarian project www.TenMillionClicksForPeace.org

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From the archive

Inspire21 archive

Collected and shared by the Inspire21 editors for over 25 years. The original author is often unknown.

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