Your shine is just around the corner!

 I loved him. But I hated him once. Now I love him again. What if that event did not happen? What if he were always the same kind father? Would I have become who I am today? I don’t care about these questions anymore because I am proud what I’ve become. “Everything is about you, Dad”

My father was not only a good man but also a good father before he started drinking alcohol. We used to play “Power Ranger”. My brother and I fought my father because we were power rangers and my father was monster. He pretended to be defeated and my brother and I acclaimed “We are heroes who saved the world.” My mother was laughing her heart out while adoring us and feeding us desserts. I was in heaven. “You built it, Dad”

That devil called alcohol consumed my father. However, my father didn’t beat or abuse my mother, my little brother or me even though he yelled and broke things. Night after night, my father didn’t change. He came home in the middle of night, alcohol in all parts of his body, rumbling and mumbling while walking in all directions. It seemed too difficult for him to stand and step properly. “Where is my kind father, Dad?”

Then one afternoon, he called me to come near him and asked me why I had been treating him badly. I replied while trying not to cry “Father, You are not the one I love. Whom I love is my previous daddy who is caring and loving. I miss him. I hope he would come back.” I saw his expression that I couldn’t read. That night he drank as usual but the coming morning, he surprised me. He was there, sitting at the breakfast table. I rubbed my eyes and looked again as if I had seen a hallucination. He was real. While having breakfast, he announced that he had something important to tell us. I didn’t look at him but at my coffee as if that day coffee was really interesting. He said, “I quit my job yesterday and I am going to Yangon to find a better job.” Everything became quiet and I was the one who broke it first by saying, “School.” “I promise the real me will come back,” my father told me. “I will wait”, I replied and left. “Come back, Real Dad.”

After three years, everything became normal again but with stronger bonds within my family. We moved to Yangon to live together with my father. I started to have a better life and a better education. My father indeed changed. He took us to the amusement parks almost every Sundays. We played football and swam together. My dad rebuilt my paradise. He defeated alcohol.” What a hero, dad!”

That experience gave me a valuable lesson. I realize that everything depends on me. “I am a bad girl now because my father used to drink. I am a good girl because my father used to drink.” The reason is the same but the answer is what I choose. I am so glad I chose to take care of my mother and be a good girl. Thanks to that event, I came to possess mind power to think positively throughout my life. “You’re the best teacher, Dad.”

I realize that sometimes things work out as I expect because of my mind power. So all I have to do is expect the best while trying my best. I believe that My-Dad-Drank-Period happened to make me stronger and more positive. Trust me I will solve every problem out while remembering “Everything is happening for a good reason and every cloud has a silver lining.” I promise myself to continue as an optimist since looking only the good side helps me get rid of depression and takes me to my golden future.” Thank you, Dad!”

I always read the above story every time I feel like giving up. After reading this, I just tell myself to stay strong and try my best because the obstacles are testing my strength and helping me to become a mentally better person. The impediments are just vehicles on my life journey. The point is what I do-use them to move faster, avoid them or let them hit me. So, my message to readers is “Stay strong and optimistic”! Your prize is just around the corner. If you’re facing uneventful events or feel like giving up or depressed, take a deep breath and think opportunities are coming. I believe you’re going to use these difficulties on your favor. You are getting a chance to take yourself to another level because the difficulties you conquer make who you are. You know everything is going to be ok. There is a clear blue sky after storm. “Be positive and your time to shine is just around the corner.”