Defining Moment

A defining moment is when your life reaches an all time low and you say to yourself that this is it, and you refuse to take anymore. Then you get up and do something with your life. Or it could be a moment of clarity when you realize what it is that you want to do with your life and the defining moment is the turning point.

Have you ever experienced a defining moment?

Some people that have done great things in their lives can recall a specific and precise moment when they made up their mind and that one decision shaped the rest of their lives.

The other day, I was sitting in the mall with my notepad and pen trying to think about what my defining moment is. I think I may have several defining moments.

One of my most profound and painful memories is when my younger brother passed away. He was 5 years old and I was 6 at the time. We lived in Vietnam and my family was really poor. You could say that he was the good one and I always felt like the bad child. I would get into trouble a lot and blame my troubles on him. He would take the punishment without saying a word or rattling me out. He was kind and soft spoken. He didn't cry, or want very much.

There was a holiday and we had more food than usual. We had chicken, a few grapes and rice. Normally we would eat plain rice or a piece of sweet potato for a meal. My brother wasnt feeling well and didnt want to eat, so I scolded him and I made him eat. He had a really high fever during the night. My parents rushed him to the hospital but lines were long and the medical care was expensive. They went to borrow money from relatives for his medicine, expenses and IV. When they got back, he was dead. His fever was really high, hes lips were bloody, dry and cracked. My family was devastated.

For a few years after that happened, my Mom would constantly blame me for his death. She would say things like that I deserved to die and I wasnt good enough to live. Why him? She said I should be the one, and not him. It really hurt and had bothered me for a really long time. I would be depressed about it.

Then one day I realized that I could learn a lot from my deceased brother and that all things happen for a reason. Thats when I stopped blaming myself.

I realize that I can do my best with the time that I have left on Earth. I can try and try, also help my family. I cant be him and I dont have the selfless heart that he does. I cant be good all the time, but I do try. What we must realize is that all we can do is our best and leave the rest to God. I know that doing my best is all that God and my family expect of me. Thats when the burden lessens.

Think about your own life, your defining moment, and analyze it to see if there is anything you can learn from it. Or figure out what it is that you were meant to do with your life. What is your lifes purpose?

I think my lifes purpose is to help my family live an easier life by becoming more successful. Also, one of my goals is to help and encourage people to become better people whether they have a lot of money or very little.