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It was a foregone conclusion before finishing high school and leaving home. My father passed away when I was 13, and mother was looking for me and my siblings to succeed and lift her above her very low standard of living. She was confident that she had provided us the survival tools we needed. Yes, the foregone conclusion was the fact that 'FAILURE WAS NOT AN OPTION'. I was less than two years married and we had a new born daughter. My mentor who had promoted me was no longer with the organization. There never was a mission more dear to me and to which I had given my all, only to be denied, overlooked, and set aside. In this and every other assignment, I did my best and anticipated a continued life of service to the people and or the organization. However, it was not to be because the circumstances were such that I was not deemed qualified for the task, position, nor worthy of certain compensations. Like it or not, I had to LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS and move on. Chapter 2. Then came a place of 'new beginnings'; A haven of rest from emotional labor pains. I thought that it was a platform from which I could regain a sense of balance and confidence. But on the contrary, it was a place of letdown from which I would have to rise again like leaven and launch a new chapter very similar to the last one. This one 'had my name on it' with its own distinctions, and I thought that I would be there for a lifetime. I thought that I had found, after much wandering from pillow to post, a new opportunity of service. But after just two years, my mission and relationship with these dear ones were ended. Like it or not, again I had to LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS and move on. Chapter 3. Over the years, what seemed like a life-long pattern of disappointments, may very well have been what it takes to reach and fulfill one's God-given destiny. I had to be brave and 'move on' to the next chapter. Yes, those WHISPERS OF FAILURE were sometimes brutal, but they only made me stronger. Yes, there was plenty of spilled milk, but each time I was able to wipe it up and move on. Yes, I have FAILED MORE TIMES than I'd like to admit, but OPTIONS NEVER CEASED. I once heard an inspiring story of a prize fighter who was knocked down more times than any fighter in history, but still became a heavy weight champion because he also got up each time. To be champions, we have no other option but to keep getting up. 100620PSCtest, Will To Survive, Silent One