Advice I Would have Given Myself Five Years ago by Nancy

Advice I Would have Given Myself Five Years ago by Nancy - April 2021 Scholarship Essay

Why would I have given myself any advice five years ago? Did I not know how to handle any situation at age sixty?
No, when I really think about it, I did not know how to handle every incident that arose, although I had lived sixty years and experienced many life situations.
Five years ago, in 2016, I went through a gamut of adverse events that really brought me down. When people ask me how was the knee replacement I had that year, I tell them that was the best thing that happened to me! It truly was!
My husband asked me for a divorce. My daughter's horse killed my goat. My goat, Dory, was having hoof problems on a Monday. The vet came out and gave him a shot. By Friday he was walking better. My daughter's horse, on Friday, must have sensed something was still wrong and slammed Dory against the post. I guess that is a herd thing. Horses will put another horse down if he/she is holding back the herd.
I lost my chocolate lab of fourteen years which I was heartbroken over. On the way driving to go look at another dog for a possible pet, I must have nodded off for a split second and came to, unable to slow down from a cruise speed of sixty. The car went right over the round-about. I totaled my beautiful red Mazda. The only ticket I have ever had driving was going five miles over the speed limit. This day, I got a ticket for reckless driving, which stays on my record for several years.
2016 was a year I wanted to forget. With all that went on that year, looking back, I would have gotten myself into a counselor to deal with all the losses.
I have a stronger faith in God now than what I had five years ago. My advice would have been to dig into the bible, talk with my pastor, and enter a divorce support group, which I finally did the next year.
One of the healthiest things for me would have been to do an activity such as biking or some type of exercise. I always feel better when I exercise.
When negative things happen, it is so easy to want to dig a hole and bury oneself. The worst thing too, is to be idle and do nothing.
In the past five years I have learned much and am becoming a counselor for clients with addictions.
They say each year of your life makes you wiser. How the year 2016 would have been easier and a growing/ healing experience if I had given everything to the Lord and trusted he would work all out, according to his will.