Discovery

The Strength in Our Scars

Optimistic

A word used to describe one who is hopeful or confident about the future. This word lays out the base of this entire blog. People can choose to be optimistic, but does that mean they are? Some are pessimistic, viewing the world on a negative basis. Seeing the worst in every situation: or believing the worst will happen. How can people view the world as such a blessing, when it is easier to let the negativity take over? How do people remain bright and hopeful?

A small four-letter word gives people their meaning, a light guiding the weak out of the thunder they call life. This word is hope. Without hope, what is there to look forward to? It gives people something to believe in, the same with religion. Many people say, "It's better to believe in something than nothing". Hope gives people something to hold on to. An alternate way out of the gloominess, to believe things will get better, for life and the things it throws at you to be viewed in a positive way. 

The book I have read for this month is The Strength in Our Scars by Bianca Sparacino. A book I would normally stray away from. With certainty, I can say this book was well-needed. I've always been the type of person to read fun, lightweight, meaningless books. This book was far from that, it pushes one to look at different perspectives on things, to be optimistic. This book takes you down a path of learning how to love yourself and heal from your past. 

"I am a firm believer there is beauty in the contrast. You have not lived until you have died." Without the suffrage, what is happiness? You can only appreciate the good, with the contrast of the bad. "This world will give you beauty, but it will also give you pain.". You must learn how to accept that there are going to be troubles in your life. Once you embrace that, great things come to you. She then says, "The greatest lesson you will learn is that this too {the pain}, is a gift." "Not everything in life is meant to be a beautiful story". Throughout this entire book, the topic of pain comes up. To have the good, you must embrace the bad. Let it make you a stronger person. take it as a lesson, not a punishment.

She then goes on to talk about love and the complexities that come with it. "Fate does not exist. Only effort does." If it was meant to be, then it would be. I like this quote a lot, now in days commonly known as "if they wanted to, they would.". It's a prime example of those who put the work, time, and effort in, will reap the benefits. "Love is not something that has one foot out the door and it is not the bare minimums" "You cannot care and love someone with just words, words are simple and flat." You have to care, and be there for that person, to show them that you genuinely love them. Sometimes you have to let people in and accept the fact that some people are good. "You do not always have to be fire. You do not always have to burn the ones that decide to come close.". 

I 100% would recommend this book to anyone. In life, everyone has had one experience they could grow and learn from. One thing that people struggle with is accepting the bad and turning it into a blessing. One quote from this book that stuck with me was "From time to time trace the scars that life left you, it will remind you that at one point you fought for something.". This is something that I can think about when things get hard, and I can remind myself that everything happens for a reason. Overall, I would give this book 4.5/5 stars.