A Second Chance

My life story made me a big believer in a second chance. As a teenager, I was given second chances to rethink things and correct things I have done. These second chances provided me with the opportunity to mature and chose new ways of acting. And as an adult, my life had changed thanks to second chances. The most obvious example is my experience in the classroom. As a teenager, I was constantly the worse student in my class. I disliked school so much that I promised myself never to set foot inside a classroom after graduating high school. Ten years later, at age twenty-eight, family members encouraged me to pursue higher education, and supported me during my years in college. To my (big) surprise I transformed myself from a struggling “D and F” student in high school to an enthusiastic “A and B” student in college. I actually enjoyed studying. The biggest difference was my ability to forgive myself for my learning problems and appreciation for the second chance in education. Today, as a teacher, I use the frustration I felt as a student, to better understand my student. And as a teacher and a parent, I talk about the importance of keeping open mind, forgiving, and given ourselves a second chance.
The ability to give ourselves or someone else a second chance comes from the ability to relate. When we relate we can forgive. And when we can forgive, we can give a second chance. When we do it consciously, it’s a beautiful feeling, and the end results (not always) are even more beautiful. Try it, see how it feels. Do it with yourself, with a family member, or a friend. Do it consciously, do it often, and with keen observation you will be able to see that Life treats you similarly.