I think of a car wreck when I hear the word IMPACT, but it can mean so many different things. An abusive parent can IMPACT your life in detrimental ways.
A wonderful teacher can IMPACT your life in amazing ways, a loving mother can IMPACT your life forever. You can be scarred or shaped with it. Scrap a page with the word IMPACT in it, make it strong, make it you!
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Journaling:
I have very often referred to my daughter as a “medical nightmare”. She’s klutzy and often ends up in the emergency room. Well, this time was different - it was truly her health, and not just a broken bone. It all started when she told me her back hurt. I really didn’t think too much of it. I figured she had slept wrong or something...this went on about a week. On Saturday morning, she vomited. Again, didn’t think too much of it. By Sunday, the back was really hurting and she was feeling nauseas all the time - to the walk in clinic we went. They took an x-ray, said her back was fine and sent her home with painkillers. Monday morning, the fevers started - around 105 degrees. To the hospital emergency room we went. 7 hours later, we were told she had mononucleosis. I don’t think I ever realized that virus could hit that hard. But it did. We had to follow up with our regular doctor. So we did. What a surprise we had. Not only did she have mono, she also had a UTI and something called granulomas on her liver. This could have actually come from somebody who had tuburculosis. To make matters worse, our doctor wasn’t going to be taking our new health plan, so we had to follow up in a month to be tested for tuburculosis and find a new doctor before that. This is definitely what I would call a SUDDEN IMPACT!
"Reality check - maybe you're not taking care of yourself after all."
After those words left my tongue, I felt a little shocked. I was becoming more and more confident as a therapist, even though I was only 27. I loved my job working at the intensive psychiatric counseling center. Helping people professionally was something I dreamed about since I was a pre-teen.
The woman in my group therapy session just stared at me blankly, then said, "Isn't that a little harsh?" I sheepishly apologized for coming off strong but I pointed out a few things going on in her life that lead her to an emotional break down. For weeks after that, my colleagues and I worked with her on getting to where she needed to be emotionally. As her primary therapist, I often thought about how I would be affecting her life and I took caution in each approach. I challenged her to confront the reasons why she was being so self-destructive, and build her feelings of self-worth. There were times when she got defensive. Other times she'd break down and cry, showing her most vulnerable emotions. Sometimes she'd get angry, as most do when digging up raw feelings. But she never missed one day of therapy, even when it was draining.
The day that she "graduated" from therapy was the day I realized that I had made a genuine impact on her. She thanked me in front of my colleagues and said that she'd remember my words for years to come and how they'd help her in the future. She said that I was wise beyond my years and that she'd never forget me. Nor have I ever forgotten her.
I guess you just never know when you might impact someone.
Kelly:
Journaling:
There are so many things that have impacted my life to shape me into the person I am now. *Being a mom * God * Being a wife * Faith * My mom & Dad * Losing friends & family * strength * disease * love * passion * joy * sadness
Laurajean:
Journaling:
You didn't have to treat Brian and I like that...we loved you , you were our father. You hurt us, not physically, but emotionally!! Screaming at us the way you did, did nothing to help our self-esteem. We were so scared of you, didn't want to piss you off. Now looking back, I realize it was a control problem you had. And even now, the excuses you use, doesn't make it right. July 2010
Amy:
Journaling:
Memories have impact - good or bad. Memories affect our lives in unimaginable ways. Just remember everything happens for a reason and you will always have those memories to learn from.
