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Find Your Smile: TURN CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES

#SoManyReasonsToSmile2020
“Embrace each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-transformation.” 

In 2007, I began my first full-time job as a teacher. 
To this day, I consider that first job to be one of the toughest challenges I have ever faced, 
for a wide-variety of reasons. 
That being said, that particular challenge set me up with so many opportunities, 
and of course more challenges that turned into more opportunities.

Some of the first students I ever taught helped shape the person I am today
Over the years, I have learned that challenges can always be turned into opportunities 
and that when we think of them in this way,
we learn, we grow and most of all, we strengthen our mindset
while preparing ourselves for future barriers.

Some of my most rewarding moments have come from overcoming adversity

The current COVID-19 situation that we are all dealing with 
is undoubtedly very difficult in so many different ways, 
however I truly believe that if we look at it as an opportunity, 
the outcome could be something absolutely wonderful. 
The choice is ours to reshape an awful experience 
into promising possibilities. 
How about spending more time bonding with family members, 
spending more time alone, relaxing more, reflecting on goals, 
learning new skills, catching-up with people around the World...?

I have used my time in isolation to relax and watch lots of Netflix, 
but also to reflect on my nutrition, to work on my fitness without any pressure 
and to do a little mindfulness practice amongst other things

In life, we are bound to face adversity - 
in our families, our friendships, our relationships, our jobs, our finances, our health...
but the way we choose to attack it and overcome it, 
that's often what will define our happiness and our success. 
Every single obstacle we face marks us, changes us, 
teaches us and leads us to becoming better individuals.

It truly is all about the journey, rather than the destination

A large part of the reason that I am the person I am today is 
because of the experiences I’ve had, not in spite of them. 
The struggles I’ve endured have transformed me and
have opened doors for me.
I have found that the challenges I've faced have made life more interesting 
and that the greatest satisfaction 
has come from surmounting barriers.

Always finding time to reflect, no matter where I am in the world

We can’t change the current situation, 
so why not start looking at changing ourselves. 
Let’s open ourselves up to adversity. 
Let's embrace obstacles. 
Let's seek opportunities. 
Let’s learn. Let's grow. Let's strengthen our mindset. 
Let's better ourselves.

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, 
nor the most intelligent that survives. 
It is the one that is most adaptable to change."
-Charles Darwin

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