If you’ve lived long enough to have a few scrapes, scars, belly laughs, and heartbreaks, then congratulations — you’re officially living a well-lived life. I’ve learned (often the hard way) that the moments that shape us most aren’t the shiny ones we pose for. They’re the messy ones. The moments we’d never frame or put in a scrapbook, but somehow they end up being the ones that matter most.

My life has included plenty of wins and more than a few tough breaks, and the tough breaks have been my greatest teachers. Navigating a world that wasn’t built with cerebral palsy in mind, pushing past low expectations, and insisting on a self-determined life didn’t come without effort. Those challenges weren’t the end of the story. They were the part that built my strength. They stretched me, tested me, and made the good moments feel earned. If you know my journey at all, you know I’ve dealt with bumps, barriers, and plain old ignorance. Every one of those experiences gave me an opportunity to grow a thicker skin and a stronger sense of who I am. 

A well-lived life isn’t perfect, and it certainly isn’t smooth. It’s not supposed to be. It’s full of contrast. Joy and grief. Confidence and doubt. Success and disappointment. That back-and-forth is what gives life depth. Without the hard moments, the good ones wouldn’t feel nearly as meaningful. And without setbacks, we’d never learn how resilient we really are. Sometimes you even learn to laugh at yourself along the way — and trust me, a sense of humor helps.

The goal isn’t to avoid hardship. The goal is to let it shape you without shrinking you. To let the sad moments add perspective and the happy ones remind you why you keep going. A full life means owning all of it, not just the easy or polished parts.

So when life hands you something heavy, remember this: it still counts as part of a well-lived life. This is where growth happens. This is where character is built. And one day, you may look back and realize that while the challenge didn’t define you, it absolutely helped you become who you are.

And that, to me, is what it really means to live fully — showing up for all of it, with honesty, grit, and a whole lot of heart.