I was raised Catholic and early on as a kid, I developed devotion and a deep belief in God and Jesus Christ. I went to catholic school, I prayed a lot, I loved going to Mass, I confessed regularly, etc. Even though I didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of my relationship with God at a young age, I always felt compelled to show God my faith and aspirations to be a kind person. This allowed me to feel closer to Him and more protected. As I grew older into a teenager and then a young adult, the enthusiasm I followed God with diminished, and it was during these years I struggled the most in my life. I fell into self-sufficiency, I was highly influenced by my ego, I had low self-esteem, I had a problem with alcohol consumption, I chased insignificant desires, I chose short-term pleasures over long-term fulfillment and often made self-defeating decisions. I was living completely unconscious.

In the most recent years of my adulthood, by making significant changes in my life I’ve realized I can accomplish so much more than I could have ever thought, and the foundation of it all has been my relationship with God. The day I saw myself at my lowest point, I acknowledged that I needed God, I reached out to Him, I started strengthening my faith and relationship with Him, and my life began to fundamentally transform. Looking back at the past several years, appreciating the amazing experiences I’ve gotten to live, and recognizing the unimaginable ways my life has been transformed; gives me the assurance that surrendering my selfish ambitions, living by faith, and giving my life for God’s purposes, is the only way I can continue to discover what I am truly capable of, and find long-lasting joy and peace.