Good posts!

Having been raised with 'a it's better to give than receive' philosophy finding myself on the receiving end has been a continuous struggle. Once upon a time I was financial independent, had a great career and active family life. All that was gone in a few short months. Suddenly I was on disability and living below the poverty level with the same people I so glibbly donated to when I had a 'normal' life.

Pride took a serious blow when my family was chosen as the project for one of the malls at Christmas. My daughter was showered with gifts from the stores, we were given a gift certificate from a grocery store, a Christmas tree and anything else this happy group of volunteers could think of. Putting on a brave front and receiving their gifts was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It was humbling.

Life as I knew it is gone forever and this 'new' life is free of things and toys and debt. It is based on getting through a day at a time and when energy permits, helping others. It is free and happy and still a struggle for a Type A personality who used to be able to do it all.

Every soul must journey through it's valley. I guess for some of us that valley is now endless. Learning to appreciate the 'view' from down here is not quite the growth process I had planned for but I am thankful for the lessons learned.