"We fight to win" - a road sign

​Last April and May, I was going through some rough times.  There were some sad events that altered the direction of my purpose and career.  Once again I was shaken to my core, and did not know how to fight.  I was depressed and discouraged. 
​
My husband and I took a vacation to see my son and his family in Wisconsin.  Returning home, I felt somewhat refreshed and loved.  Normally I don’t even see signs along the road.  I think they are a nuisance to the beauty of the world and nature around us.  But for some reason, as we began our trip home – my eyes were directed to about five signs in a row.  The signs seemed to be speaking to me; they contained words of hope.  It was at that moment that I began to watch every sign.  Some inspired me.  Some made me laugh.  Some made me question.  They all made me think. 
 
I started writing down what the signs said.  When I got home, I posted the wording of the signs on Facebook.  I became much more aware of signs.  On our next trip, I again watched and wrote.  So it began that I started writing based on road signs.
 
Today is the last sign written down from another trip.  It has been a creative process for me to write according to signs.  The writing has helped me “fight” and heal.  So today marks the end of my writing according to road signs.  I guess it is meant for me to be ready to move on. 
 
What will I write about next?  Right now, I don’t know.  But I do know that events and the world around me and God inspire me to write my thoughts.  It continues to be a way for me to “fight” and to understand. 
 
I was raised to be a “fighter.”  And this role was a difficult one for me being the shy and introverted child that I was.  There are times I still revert back to that little girl afraid of the world.  In many ways I am still that child, very shy and introverted.  But I have also learned to fight and was taught to fight. 
 
York, the slave on the Lewis and Clark expedition, was a “fighter” too.  So at York Academy of Discovery, we show children how to “fight” to win.  We also show them how to handle defeat.  We help them to use their creative energies (art, dance, music, writing…) to overcome hurts and disappointments.  At the very moment when we want to give up and give in, is the very moment that the real fight occurs.  This is one battle we don’t want to lose.  Though we will lose many fights and we know that losing can give us greater strength – we have to learn to stand up and begin again.  At York – we fight to win!
 
BEcky