I couldn't resist another comment :)

Amber,

I never really thought about it before this.... but you're right, "choice" is an incredible word! :) There's a lot there hiding underneath the surface of this incredible word.... :)

> At every cross-road and turning point in my
> life ...and through every tragic event, just
> knowing that I had a choice in even the most
> dire of situations has always been mighty
> empowering.

Yes, I can understand that....

Even someone in prison has choices....

They could choose to just while away the hours doing nothing in particular....

Or they could (for example) choose to educate themselves. I remember reading the occasional news story about prisoners who have educated themselves about various topics while they were in prison....

I bring up the topic of prisoners mainly because they are in a world designed to limit their choices. But even there, the choices exist....

> After all, it's not about what happens TO
> you, but what you decide to do about it
> (involving choice) that makes it more
> possible to successfully overcome adversity.

Yes.... I think that's a very wise paragraph. :)

> But what really impresses me are the
> children who come out of broken homes and
> living on the streets and without any
> parental guidance or nurturing...but who
> somehow manage to overcome the odds and to
> triumph in spite of their circumstances.
> Wow. Those are the truly special people to
> admire.

Yes, I feel the same way....

There are those individuals who have come from a difficult background, and who nevertheless have triumphed and succeeded. I think such people are really great heroes and heroines, whose stories we can learn from and cherish....

> I wonder if the power of the belief or
> realization that they had 'choices' in life
> is what gave them the impetus to rise above
> it all -and to become the best possible
> specimens of human beings that they could?

I think you're probably right, that's probably a KEY part of it!

> Well, choice is my 'word of the day' today
> to contemplate and to really develop an
> ongoing and even deeper appreciation for.
> Believing in the potentially liberating
> power of choices can certainly help to free
> us from our own 'personal prisons' that WE
> create in our minds which contribute to
> keeping some of us bound and chained to a
> less than potent life.

> *Choice*...I like what that word represents!

Wow, Amber, that was wonderful, full of wisdom.... I really believe that this is an important key....

Every day (or night) we have a whole array of choices before us. We can learn something new. We can work towards one of our goals. We can do some exercise. We can spend time with family. We can sit and watch TV. And many other possible things....

Just realizing these different choices are in front of us, and realizing that which choice we make will affect our life in some way (big or small), I think is an empowering thing!

Thank you Amber for those "seeds of wisdom".... :)

Dien