so not my style

The words I dreaded hearing from today's challenge - "Take a risk. Write something provocative and stand by it."

I'm about one of the least provocative people you'll ever meet.

I don't pick fights, I avoid confrontation, and I desire everything to be happiness and bliss for me and my family and the general population.

I am such a peacemaker.

This is not to say I don't have opinions, ideas, and ways of thinking that I adhere to come what may.  It's just that I'm a general "let's make sure everyone is happy" kind of person (and that is not necessarily a good thing all the time).

But, I so completely believe in these statements Jeff makes - "Why do we do this (write provocatively)? Because this sets others free. To do the same. To live freely and honestly. So get in our faces; tell us the truth. And watch the ripple effect."

All day I've tried to think of a few things to tell you that would match this challenge. That's what you'll read next. If you don't like what I have to say, I do hope you'll stick around even if we disagree.  And even leave me a comment telling me so.  That's fine by me.  Here goes.

First and foremost, at 50, I've been through a bunch of crap stuff along my life's way and one thing has become the central focus to my very soul and being, and that is the person of Jesus Christ.  I do not believe all roads lead to God. I stand firmly on the belief that there is only one way to heaven, and that is through Jesus.  He is the way, and the only way.  If that makes me narrow minded, then so be it. But that's the basis of who I really am, and I make no apology for it.  No need to.  He's proven Himself over and over again to me.

Secondly, I have struggled my entire life with my weight.  Starting in my childhood, it still plagues me to this day.  It's been a constant, horrible, self-defeating exhausting mental battle that I am only now learning to conquer through different choices, a different way of thinking, and a gym membership. (and by keeping chocolate out of the house.)  But if you want to know what pain I know best, it's the pain of being overweight and the toll that takes on a life.  I could write a book.

Beyond those two things, it gets a little more common- parenting has been difficult, depression has visited our family and done its damage, I've walked through things as a mother I would not wish on my enemy, and I've been spent emotionally more times than not trying to hold it all together for days on end.

But so have a lot of us. 

So if you're still reading, there you have it;  good old provocative me.

Thanks for listening.  Feel free to comment if I've struck gold with you or if you now have a bone to pick with me.

Either way, I'm glad you're here.