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Have you been through any of these incredibly tough
life challenges? by MARK WEBB
Mark Webb is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice at Oakwood Counseling Center in Valdosta. He is the author of“ How To Be A Great Partner” and“ How To Argueproof Your Relationship.” Read more of his articles at www. TheRelationshipSpecialist. com.
“ The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” ~ Nelson Mandela
None of us are immune to hard times and life can be quite tough sometimes. Have you been through any of these life changing experiences?
1You have experienced the loss of a loved one. When a loved one dies, it can change your life forever. You may never truly get over the loss. You adapt to the loss as best you can. Some losses are harder than others and some losses take longer to adjust to. A friend once said“ You never really get over the loss, it just gets different.” Looking back, can you see where you have learned to appreciate the people in your life more so because of the losses you have endured?
2You’ ve had your heart broken. A broken heart can lead to you deciding to never love again and to guard yourself from ever getting hurt again, or it can teach you to love with an even greater involvement. A broken heart can be so painful that you will sometimes feel like you will never get over it. Most people come to realize though that this breakup is the best thing that could have happened to them. What have you learned from the heart breaks in your life and how have they made you a better person?
“ The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
3You have been betrayed by someone you trusted. Life can really beat you up sometimes and one of the toughest challenges in life is in overcoming a betrayal by someone who shouldn’ t have betrayed you. Are you able to look back on that time and process what happened, what led up to it, how could you have handled things differently? No one can predict accurately how something terrible like a betrayal will play out but we can prepare our coping mechanisms to handle how we might respond.
4You’ ve endured hard times. Did you grow up in an abusive home? Have you ever had a hard time paying your bills? Have you ever been fired from a job? Do you know the pain of hunger? The scenarios of life challenges are endless. Adversity will not only teach you resilience but it will also teach you how to better deal with future challenges. What are the hardest times you have faced and how did they shape you into a better
June 2025 | Valdosta Scene 37