The Quiet Strength of Gratitude — A STORY OF MOMENTS THAT SHAPE US

Lessons From the People Who Shape Us

Dec 07, 2025

1. When Life Sends the Right People at the Right Time

I truly believe that people and situations come into our lives exactly when we need them the most. I believe God guides them toward us. The universe knows what lessons we must learn, and when.

Yet very often, we enjoy the good moments—the joys, the victories, the peaceful times—but we reject the pain, the failures, the losses. And in that resistance, we miss what there is to understand. We don’t always see the hidden lessons, or the maturity each trial helps us develop.

And that deprives us of something precious and necessary: gratitude.

2. The Spark of Writing — A Beginning I Didn’t Expect

I used to say I was lucky. Whenever I felt lost, someone somehow ended up reaching out a hand to me. That’s still true today.

When I started writing for the first time, it was during the Covid-19 pandemic. Like everyone else, I was confined at home, with both school and work happening online. I had all the time in the world. I could have used it to achieve many things… but instead, I spent my days watching series and anime.

I watched a lot of them. That’s when I discovered isekai: stories where someone dies and is reborn in another world. The concept fascinated me at first. But the excitement faded. Most of these stories always reincarnated the hero as a human. I grew tired of that formula.

I wanted something different. And since I couldn’t find what I wanted to read, I decided to write my own dark fantasy story.

3. Limiting Beliefs, and the Joy That Refused to Die

I had always loved writing. But because of limiting beliefs, I never allowed myself to do it seriously. When inspiration became too strong, I scribbled ideas on notebook covers or loose sheets, but I never dared to write a real text—much less a novel. The idea felt absurd.

And yet, looking back, I now realize even the time I spent watching anime during the pandemic wasn’t wasted. It was actually the beginning of my path.

Would I be wrong to believe it was a message from the universe?

4. The First Step — And the Person Who Arrived at the Right Moment

Writing excited me. I would imagine myself watching my favorite show—The Originals, for example—and I would start writing, carried by emotion. I had no plan, no method. I simply wrote. I knew nothing about the craft of writing, its rules, its demands.

But I was happy.

I wrote my own isekai. My protagonist died and was reborn as a vampire—a small nod to Niklaus Mikaelson. Soon, the story became too important to hide. So I published it on Wattpad, in Spanish, since I was living in Colombia at the time.

That’s when I met an author who changed everything: Jessica Chuecos.
She writes erotic novels. We exchanged our texts. Our styles were very different, of course, but that experience gave me so much. She taught me about structure, discipline, and craft. Her feedback helped me build my fantasy world with more depth and clarity.

She guided me at a moment when I needed direction.

5. When Silence Makes You Doubt — And One Voice Saves You

In 2021, I published my story on Wattpad in Spanish. Feedback was minimal, almost nonexistent. I moved it to Booknet. Deep down, I knew the story had potential. It was vivid—imperfect, but honest. I dreamed of attracting many readers right away… but that didn’t happen.

To make things worse, new isekai anime appeared with non-human protagonists: slimes, spiders, swords, and even objects. What I thought was original in my story suddenly wasn’t anymore. The very idea that pushed me to write evaporated.

So I wanted to quit.
And I did.

6. The Reader Who Held the Light When I Went Dark

I stopped writing. I stopped posting. I lost confidence in myself and in my work. I was writing for attention, not for myself.

That’s when A. entered my life. A quiet but precious reader. I know almost nothing about her—only her username on Booknet. Not her name, nationality, or face.

But she loved my story from the very first lines. Imperfect, unfinished, but she loved it. And with each new chapter, she left a comment—always enthusiastic, always encouraging.

Her constancy saved me. It made me want to write again.

Months would pass with no updates, sometimes almost a year. Yet every time I returned, her comments were there—waiting, asking for the next chapter with unwavering faith.

I felt guilty… so I wrote for her.

That story, which was supposed to be a simple project, is now a full dark fantasy saga. Four volumes are finished; the fifth is in progress.

And she is still there. More passionate than ever.

7. The Love That Lifted Me — Then Left Without a Word

I truly wouldn’t be where I am without her. A. is my precious reader, my favorite fan. She helped me find my path again. She helped me mature. I used to be ashamed to call myself a writer. Today, I say it proudly.

But she wasn’t the only one who arrived at the right moment.

During a period of my life, I felt completely lost. No goal. No vision. I wrote, but as a distraction. I was studying, but couldn’t imagine a future. I drifted without direction.

Then I met a girl. M.
Beautiful. Intelligent. Studious. Ambitious. Independent. I never thought she would even look at me. But I tried. I spoke to her. I showed up. I had nothing else to offer. And surprisingly, she accepted to be with me. It was a long-distance relationship. And yes—I loved her.

Because I felt unworthy of her, I pushed myself. She worked hard, chased her dreams, stayed disciplined. And thanks to her, I tried again and again. I failed often, but she never complained. She never judged or humiliated me. She simply stayed. Patient. Encouraging. Supportive.

Years later, I had changed. I knew myself better. I knew my worth. I found my path.

And then she left. Without explanation. Everything seemed fine… and then she disappeared. Total silence.

I felt anger at first. But today, I’m grateful. She was my refuge when I couldn’t stand on my own. She helped me grow into who I am now.

Maybe she wasn’t meant to stay, but to guide me toward my own light. And if that’s true, then she fulfilled her purpose. For that, I wish her happiness. It’s the least I can offer after everything she gave me.

8. The Darién Gap — A Journey That Broke and Forged Me

To enter the United States, I left Colombia by crossing El Tapón del Darién.

After the assassination of Haiti’s president in 2020, involving Colombians, it became almost impossible for a Haitian to obtain a visa—even a student visa—in Colombia. I had lived there for two years, unable to finish my studies. After multiple visa refusals, some friends decided to leave. They suggested I join them. And since I saw no other path, I accepted.

The journey was brutal. I nearly died falling from a cliff. But I survived. And that day, I understood the true value of life. That sometimes, money means nothing. And when money has no value, human beings are enough.

That experience broke me, but it also forged me.

9. Friends, Masks, and the Lessons Hidden in Hard Times

On the journey, I ran out of money. I relied on friends. Some humiliated me. Others abandoned me. Still others kept their promises.

That journey revealed people’s hearts. It taught me, as Ecclesiastes says, that there is a time for everything.

I had to put my pride aside. Friends I had known for seven years turned against me. Some favored people we had just met. My eyes were open, but I was blind. I looked, but I did not see.

I had to dig into the little dignity I had left and accept the pain to reach my goal.

Sometimes, during difficult times, you must set your pride aside to move forward. Keep your eyes on the objective, keep going—even when it hurts.

I no longer speak to some of them. Among them was someone I considered a brother. And despite everything, I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

For that, I am grateful.

I still cross paths with the one who treated me the worst. We talk. We go out. Sometimes we go to the gym. I haven’t forgotten. But I thank God for allowing me to see who he truly is. Today, I’m clearer about our bond.

10. Gratitude as a Path, a Practice, a Liberation

I believe every moment in life has meaning. It must help us grow.
And I’m not talking about destiny. No. It’s up to us to actively look for the lesson hidden behind each situation, each gesture, each choice.

We must learn from joys, successes, and peaceful times.
But also from pain, betrayal, loss, frustration… the highs and the lows.

Because I’m convinced that these experiences—whether painful or joyful—give us essential values:

courage
determination
humility
wisdom
awareness of the value of life
appreciation of others
resilience
patience
faith
self-esteem
a sense of justice
dignity
inner peace
personal growth
and, sometimes, fulfillment

And I sincerely believe we must thank God for all these moments, because they made us who we are today.

The more we let gratitude grow within us, the more space it creates.
It soothes the mind.
It dissolves the toxins that harm our mental—even physical—health.
It makes life a little lighter.

Maybe not perfectly.
But a little.
And sometimes, a little is enough.

🪞 Step for Reflection

Ask yourself today:

Who were the people or moments that shaped me — gently or painfully?
What lesson did this season try to teach me?
Where can I practice gratitude, even for what once hurt?

Gratitude isn’t forgetting the wound.
It’s recognizing how far you’ve come because of it.

Your story is not random.
Every person, every loss, every unexpected light
has brought you one step closer to yourself.

The Mirror Room

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