There are tough experiences in life that make us see things differently. They force us to change course and guide our steps toward better paths. A broken heart, bankruptcy, the life or death of a family member are among the most common. In my case, the experiences that have made me grow the most are my children, bankruptcy, and a broken heart.

The responsibility of being a father.

When my children were born, my life changed completely. They came into my life when I was relatively young—not yet 30. They put an end to my university days filled with excesses and made me dedicate myself fully to my profession. I traded parties for constant preparation, and my career began to take off. They gave me a sense of responsibility. They made me realize that they depend on the decisions I would make from that moment on in my life.

The harshness of bankruptcy.

When I declared insolvency, I managed to breathe a little from the constant calls of bank creditors. The snowball had simply turned into an avalanche of debt. My only choice was the freezing of all my funds and credit. After several meetings with creditors, I succeeded in renegotiating my debts. I then set up a plan to pay them off over many years. Today my situation is prosperous again, my credit is excellent, and my finances are in order. Bankruptcy truly taught me a crucial lesson. I needed to learn to manage my finances correctly. Otherwise, I would live a life of financial slavery.

The pain of a broken heart.

At the moment when I was most in love in my life, that person decided to leave. I didn’t know how to value that relationship, and I don’t blame her for making that decision. I couldn’t give her what she wanted, and she couldn’t give me what I wanted. I had to face being alone again and endure the heartbreaking silence of an empty house. This experience made me find myself and recover my faith in God. Today, although I am still alone, my faith is stronger than ever. My spirituality has found the path it had lost many years ago.

The death of someone close to me has not yet come, fortunately. It’s hard to say when it will happen. When it does, I will need to be prepared for the radical changes their passing will bring to my life.