What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

I would swap out the word helped with forced.

Early on in my journey as the parent of two young children both of my parents died.

There is a saying that no-one cares for a new mother who does not have her own mother. So true. X 2 without a father too.

There was minimal support from other relatives. I survived and ultimately thrived with the support of friends and strangers, some of whom became friends.

So many tough life experiences to encounter in a six year period.

Survival and the drive to be a good enough parent pushed, pulled and cajoled me though. Eventually when the mists of grief and responsibility cleared enough to take stock I realised that I had learned to live life as it was, and not how I wished or imagined it should be.

A valuable lesson I would rather not have been forced to learn. But one that is useful even when life feels awkward or uncomfortable.

Thank goodness I am not a virtuous type. I do grumpy, sad and disappointed with what life delivers at times. But adversity early on has given me all the tools to give myself a good talking to and a good kick up the bum when needed.

And here is the ponder, how on earth does anyone give themselves a kick up the backside. Physically impossible I would say.