Defining moments revisited

Back in 2008, I blogged about defining moments......

Here it is with some updates.....

SATC episode that I tivo'd was entitled "Defining Moments"

So I thought of some defining moments in my life (in no particular order...just as they come to me)

• Opening the letter stating that I had been accepted to ASU.

• The first Christmas after my ex husband and I sepertated. I realized that if he was coming back, it would have been for Christmas. I realized on that December 25, 1999 that I was no longer going to live in fear of opening the mailbox and that I was going to take matters into my own hands. I filed for divorce January 9, 2000.

• Arriving at Vanessa's wedding in the pouring rain and receiving a phone call from Rebecca that Jeff had called and he wasn't coming. I knew that if he stood me up, I was done. So that relationship ended in the car, by myself, as it rained. Without words or a phone call or an apology, I quietly stood up for myself and ended it.

• Early March 2007, walking into a crowd of 100 teenage boys and breaking up a fight---it never occured to me (at the time) that I was putting myself in harms way, I was just standing up for what was mine (newly mine but mine nonetheless). By standing my ground (all 4"9 of me), yelling at people to leave and standing up to them, I somehow earned myself some street cred and now, when I speak, they listen. There is respect there. Partially because I stood up to them and took back the club and partially because my heart is in the right place and I feed them :)

• Sitting in the family room with my whole family putting everything out there. (Enough said)

• Sitting in the hotel room in NYC when bec and beth were asleep and looking out into the city and listening and making a memory that yes, I am really here.....something i had dreamed about since I was a little girl.

• Running up the stairs of the townhouse to tell my dad we were having a baby.

• Lexi was about 2 months old and fell asleep on my cheast and I knew then I would be connected to that baby girl for the rest of my life.

• Sitting in a meeting not too long ago and realizing that the only person in that room who had my back was my best friend in the whole wide world and no matter what happens, how mad or angry we get at each other, how different we are, etc. we are always going to be best friends.

~Standing on the stage in 2009 as one of 40 Hispanic Leaders under 40 and feeling inadequate and unworthy.  Realizing now I'm pretty awesome.

~standing in the newborn intensive care unit holding a 5 lb babies foot with Danielle and Bethany knowing my whole life had just changed and as aunties we would always protect that precious boy.

~walking out of a jail when I went to visit "jack" and becoming violently ill.  I can never do that again. 

~realizing that my kids burdens are not my burdens to carry.  

• Do you have a defining moment?