In life, everyone faces their own challenges and struggles. Some times are more testing than others and some things hit us harder than we expect, but that's OK. For me, certain times of the year remind me of hard times from the past. Just the other day I was dreading November. It sounds so silly, but it's true. November is a month that might mean nothing to most people, a month to break out their cozy sweaters and snuggle with your dog. For me, every November I'm reminded of the day I found out my best friend had cancer and I can't help but think of this. Of course, all of this made me sit back and start to think about everything...typical. It made me realize I needed to keep practicing what I preach. Normally I'm good at that but this was an event that changed my life in so many ways.

Sometimes we just need to refocus. We look at negative situations and we're scared or intimidated because the outcome isn't necessarily in our hands. What we truly need to do is look around us, so many people are constantly supporting us in our hard times. We often form friendships and bonds with people due to the trials we face. It's so important to take the time to look at the bright side of every situation. Yes, it actually is possible to be a realist and be an optimist. My best friend was fighting a battle for his life but we formed a bond unlike any other through this. He inspired so many people around him and still does daily.

Through hard times we're surrounded by true friends and true support; family becomes friends and friends become family, it can be a wonderful thing. It's not the situation we're given but the way in which we react. Even the hardest things we face can be turned into inspiration. After finding out about my best friend having cancer it was my motivation to learn more about it, to know how to deal with certain things and spread awareness. We can take these terribly hard times and turn them into a turning point in our lives.

It's important to remember the things that we face in life. It's just as important to remember who is always there by your side. With the right mindset and the right people, we can turn these hard times into something greater than the problem. We can grow and change lives around us as well as our own in the process. So don't forget to let the people you love and support know that you do and that you're so thankful for them. It can be easy to slip up and let ourselves have a bad day but in the end what really matters is that everything always comes together. Things are constantly changing, it's all part of the process and it's what makes you, you.