Welcome to my first official blog post for Lemonade Stand Confessions! Today’s confession: I wrote a memoir!

Several years ago, I thought about how I wanted to capture some “bad lemon” scenarios for my children. I also wanted to capture different ways that I was able to overcome each scenario. At that time, I thought capturing my personal experiences would be a good reference for them one day, hoping they would see how life is about choices. In addition, I wanted to prove that success is easily achievable with the right mindset and motivation. Obviously, “success” is measured by each person’s individual perception of a desired achievement.

As we age, we all have history that helps us choose our paths. So, just like everyone else, I was doing what I thought everyone else was doing: trying to find MY success. It never occurred to me that I was actually part of a rare statistic. As a former foster child, I am supposed to be a prodigy of drugs, poverty and even prostitution, after all, that is what ninety-five percent of foster children do. None of those scenarios was ever a consideration for me! So, how was I part of the five percent that had determination and ambition?

In reflecting back through the forty years of my life, what kept me on my path of success? How was I able to get back on my desired path? We ALL get off track at some point, but it is important that we choose to get back up, and keep on our desired paths. Naturally, life brings “bad lemons,” often many at one time; however, it’s up to us to find our personal ingredient to making lemonade.