i choose life.

as i was walking home from the tennis courts today, i had an epiphany stemming from a recent conversation with a friend.  forgive its rather personal nature. 

before coming to earth during the pre-mortal existence, i was fully aware that i would experience pain and suffering and sorrow and heartache in this life.  i may not have known the specific circumstances that would cause the pain, but i knew that life would hurt. a lot.  and i chose life anyway.  when i could have chosen to back down and check out, i chose to come to this world instead.  i knew if i could faithfully make it through the pain and suffering and sorrow and heartache, it would lead to something greater; i chose the hard way because it was the best way.  making that kind of decision took strength.  but i-- the person who i see only as weak and fragile-- made that decision. no one else made it for me.  i was strong once.  and because i was strong once, in my seemingly constant moments of emotional, physical, and spiritual exhaustion, i know i can be strong again.  it's part of who i am.  it's part of all of us.