What experience has shaped you the most in life?

[Doglover8180]

What experience or event in your life has changed/shaped who you are today, the most in your life?

I suspect Chitown will like this thread - it is her kind of thread. :)

[healingMD]

I would have to say MARRIAGE. I see things so differently now....clearer maybe. Marriage has strengthen me, given me insight and has brought fulfillment to my soul & spirit!

[foggierbard9]

Joining the military....my experiences overseas are something that I can't explain how it changed/shaped me into who I am today. It is just something I can't put into words.

[IntoTheMystic]

My difficult childhood, and my grandparents' living example that a loving, peaceful, harmonious family life can exist. And the obvious- becoming a parent.

[xmas tree]

A bad illness that made me loose my eye sight in one eye.

[randacren]

the death of my younger brother, it made me realize that life is too short, to NEVER take for granted the people that you love, ALWAYS tell them you love them every chance you get.......

[Smee]

Homelessness and life on the streets. That's when I learned exactly what I was made of. Not much scares me now.

[Doglover8180]

Ya'll all have really good ones - really big ones.... I guess the experience of mine that has shaped me the most - is small by comparrison - but when I first graduated - I worked in one of the worst work environments you could imagine, such vicious backstabbing women - that I learned very early on from that first job - the kind of woman I want to be in this world and the kind I don't want to be.... being treated so poorly made me vow to never treat someone else like that so it has truly shaped how I treat others today. I try very very hard to treat people with the same respect and kindness that I would want and it is because of that first job that made me this way, I was nice before but I think I am even nicer now.

[chitownmelli]

You are right dog, I do like this thread :)

[hrdlckwmn]

The experience that has shaped me the most is being the opposite of how I was raised. It was a deliberate choice to do things differently for myself and my family. Lousy childhood, daddy died when I was 8, switched high schools halfway thru, homelessness, being a single parent, marrying the best man I could have never met and having the sweetest lil girl.... Then there was the almost dying 4 years ago, that opened my eyes in ways that nothing else could have. I never, ever take life for granted any longer. It is way to precious and short.