That moment when...

 You realize that you have overcomed so much in such a short period of time.

You realize that you have surpassed expectations, have lived up to expectations, and have fallen short of expectations.

You realize that you have never made everyone happy, and that you may never be able to make everyone happy, but you can make yourself happy.

You realize that you have failed at things and they have made you a better person because not accomplishing it the first time doesn't mean you never will.

You realize that you almost gave up and quit instead of sticking it out through the fight, because it looked like life was crashing around you.

You realize that there were and are people there for you and support you, and that those who never have/did won't be there in the end.

You realize that the past is exactly that, and that it will only affect your future if you let it.

You realize that challenging yourself is a requirement.

You realize that you may not get hurt again if you let your heart out from behind the wall; if only because this time you trust the one who holds it.

We all have these moments where we look back at who we were and realize that it isn't who we are. Sometimes, that's the most important moment of them all.

Challenge Accepted

Who would have thought that a reference from How I Met Your Mother would have such an impact on society? Whether it be for a funny internet meme, a challenge to pick someone up in a bar, to do something incredibly stupid that is worthy of Youtube. However, it can also be for those harder challenges in life, running a long distance race, joining the military, skydiving, anything that involves some "testicular fortitude" as a MAJ Sincere used to say. 

The thing about those challenges, the ones that push you to your limits and maybe even past them, is that they improve who you are as a person. Just in the past year, hell maybe even the past 6 months, I've done things I never thought would be a possibility for me....Run 2 races longer than 3 miles and actually be motivated to do so, attempt to skydive (I got on the plane at least), got a slot in the 82nd Airborne, got a slot to Airborne school and I'm actually starting to look forward to it.. I'm doing all these things, that if you would have told me were gonna happen... I would have laughed at you and told you that there was no way on earth any of that was going to happen, but here I sit, and here all of it is happening.

When you start to accept the harder challenges in life, you gain a little bit of motivation, a little bit of strength, and a little bit confidence. I'm not saying that I'm willing to go Running with the Bulls, but I'm certainly willing to start trying things i never thought I would. I look back to who I was and how it was easier to stay on the safe side to now where I'm willing to put it out there on the line.

So what's your challenge? What's gonna be the challenge that pushes your limits? What's gonna get you to say "Challenge Accepted!"?