October Photo Challenge: Experiences

Hello friends, it’s time for another edition of PJ’s Photo Blogging Challenge. October’s prompt was Experiences. And, once again, it’s open to a lot of different interpretations. Experience is one of those English words that can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it can mean knowledge, education, learning, involvement in or something personally encountered. As a verb (experiences, experiencing, experienced), it can mean undergo, encounter or feel (as in emotion). English is certainly a confusing language!

Experiences 1
Meet B. She is one of those friends that I do life with outside of family. We met back in 1996 when our kiddos did gymnastics at the same gym. We hit it off so well we started a business together. We’ve been there for each other through many life experiences…the good, the bad and the complete disasters. Our kids are grown and we both have grandies now. Even though she and her husband live in Steamboat, CO, for half the year, when we get together it’s like no time has passed. We have experienced  so much life together, I’m not sure where I end and she begins.

A friend is an emotional bond, just like friendship is a human experience.  ~Simon Sinek

Experiences 2
Peanut is experiencing high school this year…with a lot of new experiences. The most prominent one is that she is a member of the marching band as a trombonist. She’s played the trombone since sixth grade but marching/walking while playing is a whole ‘nuther experience!
Every experience is a positive experience if I view it as an opportunity for growth and self-mastery. ~Brian Tracy

Experiences 3
And, don’t let anyone tell you marching band is not an athletic sport. From experiencing day-long band camp during the hottest week in August to mastering the ability to learn numerous field formation movements while holding up a trombone is an experience in itself. Even though the trombone only weighs about five pounds, Peanut is only 4 foot 10 inches and barely tops 90 pounds. Plus, band practice is relentless….every day before school and sometimes again after school. And that doesn’t include halftime shows and band competitions about every weekend during the fall months. This experience has tested her resolve, tenacity and ability to stretch the limits of her physical, emotional and psychological health.

Strength grows in those moments when you think you can’t go on, but you keep going anyway.  ~Unknown

Experiences 4
My 89-year-old mom is experiencing life without her husband, who passed away earlier this year from a brain bleed. She is experiencing panic, sorrow, grief, hopelessness and loneliness. She is not enjoying this experience and I’ve been periodically traveling to and from her home to help her navigate this part of life. After the emotional upheaval of donating his clothes, I pulled out one shirt and had this shadow box made for her so even though he is gone, he is not forgotten.
God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way.  ~C.S. Lewis

Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward. ~C. S. Lewis

Experiences 5
Peanut’s life this year is nothing but new experiences in high school. Add to all the new activities, she passed her driver’s license permit test!
Never be afraid to try something new. Life can get boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know. ~Unknown

Experiences Bonus
Living life results in gaining experience from experiences. And that results in knowledge. But, as great as knowledge is, wisdom (different from knowledge) gained from our experiences is invaluable. We only have one lifetime to experience everything life has to offer. There is beauty in both the bad as well as the good. But that is a hard lesson to learn.
This world is your best teacher. There is a lesson in everything. There is a lesson in each experience. Learn it and become wise. Every failure is a stepping stone to success. Every difficulty or disappointment is a trial of your faith. Every unpleasant incident or temptation is a test of your inner strength. Therefore, nil desperandum. March forward hero! ~Sivananda

Those are my five for Experiences. Please visit PJ’s blog to read what others experienced this month.