February of 2020 may have been the last period many enjoyed before communities implemented COVID-19 shutdowns, but there was very little for me to enjoy that month. On February 12, 2020, I received some of the most heartbreaking news of my life as my mother sat me down and explained that my father had been incarcerated. This was devastating news that I had significant challenges coping with because I always had a very close relationship with my father. This information coupled with the isolation I felt due to the shutdowns that began the following month caused me to fall into a deep depression. Having the motivation to complete everyday tasks became difficult for me, and some of my biggest hobbies such as playing the guitar suddenly ceased to bring me the joy that I once felt. I developed a negative outlook on life in general, as the betrayal I felt caused me to become very cynical and mistrustful of others. As insurmountable as these struggles felt at the time, eventually I realized that I had to make some changes to my thought process and actions. Feeling sorry for myself had gotten me nowhere, and was clearly no longer an option. I could not, and will not ever be able to control the actions of my father or anyone else for that matter, but I was in complete control of myself and how I chose to respond to the negativity in my life. Instead of focusing so much of my energy on myself and the challenges I was facing, I soon began to understand the importance of channeling that energy toward helping others. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I take pride in my house-to-house ministry where I study the Bible with all who are interested. During this time, however, our house-to-house ministry was suspended because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, I was determined to reach out to others as I participated in our letter writing and phone call campaign. I would spend up to thirty hours a month writing letters and calling people in our community to offer them an encouraging thought from the Bible despite the difficult times people were facing worldwide. Perspective and perseverance were two key words that I tried to reflect on during this period in my life. It was important for me to have the right perspective about the challenges I was facing because, through my ministry, I spoke with people who were struggling with so much more than I was. Many had lost their jobs, became seriously ill, or lost several loved ones in death. I was not experiencing any of these things at the time, so reflecting on them helped me to think outside of myself and focus more on how I could assist others. Additionally, I reflected on the importance of perseverance, because while I understood that many were facing more challenges than me, this did not invalidate my struggles emotionally and how critical it was for me to plow ahead and figure out how to manage them healthily. To this day, I continue to balance these two abilities, which have made me a more well-rounded person and better equipped to face any challenges that come my way.

February of 2020 may have been the last period many enjoyed before communities implemented COVID-19 shutdowns, but there was very little for me to enjoy that month. On February 12, 2020, I received some of the most heartbreaking news of my life as my mother sat me down and explained that my father had been incarcerated. This was devastating news that I had significant challenges coping with because I always had a very close relationship with my father. This information coupled with the isolation I felt due to the shutdowns that began the following month caused me to fall into a deep depression. Having the motivation to complete everyday tasks became difficult for me, and some of my biggest hobbies such as playing the guitar suddenly ceased to bring me the joy that I once felt. I developed a negative outlook on life in general, as the betrayal I felt caused me to become very cynical and mistrustful of others. As insurmountable as these struggles felt at the time, eventually I realized that I had to make some changes to my thought process and actions. Feeling sorry for myself had gotten me nowhere, and was clearly no longer an option. I could not, and will not ever be able to control the actions of my father or anyone else for that matter, but I was in complete control of myself and how I chose to respond to the negativity in my life. Instead of focusing so much of my energy on myself and the challenges I was facing, I soon began to understand the importance of channeling that energy toward helping others. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I take pride in my house-to-house ministry where I study the Bible with all who are interested. During this time, however, our house-to-house ministry was suspended because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, I was determined to reach out to others as I participated in our letter writing and phone call campaign. I would spend up to thirty hours a month writing letters and calling people in our community to offer them an encouraging thought from the Bible despite the difficult times people were facing worldwide. Perspective and perseverance were two key words that I tried to reflect on during this period in my life. It was important for me to have the right perspective about the challenges I was facing because, through my ministry, I spoke with people who were struggling with so much more than I was. Many had lost their jobs, became seriously ill, or lost several loved ones in death. I was not experiencing any of these things at the time, so reflecting on them helped me to think outside of myself and focus more on how I could assist others. Additionally, I reflected on the importance of perseverance, because while I understood that many were facing more challenges than me, this did not invalidate my struggles emotionally and how critical it was for me to plow ahead and figure out how to manage them healthily. To this day, I continue to balance these two abilities, which have made me a more well-rounded person and better equipped to face any challenges that come my way.

February of 2020 may have been the last period many enjoyed before communities implemented COVID-19 shutdowns, but there was very little for me to enjoy that month. On February 12, 2020, I received some of the most heartbreaking news of my life as my mother sat me down and explained that my father had been incarcerated. This was devastating news that I had significant challenges coping with because I always had a very close relationship with my father. This information coupled with the isolation I felt due to the shutdowns that began the following month caused me to fall into a deep depression. Having the motivation to complete everyday tasks became difficult for me, and some of my biggest hobbies such as playing the guitar suddenly ceased to bring me the joy that I once felt. I developed a negative outlook on life in general, as the betrayal I felt caused me to become very cynical and mistrustful of others. As insurmountable as these struggles felt at the time, eventually I realized that I had to make some changes to my thought process and actions. Feeling sorry for myself had gotten me nowhere, and was clearly no longer an option. I could not, and will not ever be able to control the actions of my father or anyone else for that matter, but I was in complete control of myself and how I chose to respond to the negativity in my life. Instead of focusing so much of my energy on myself and the challenges I was facing, I soon began to understand the importance of channeling that energy toward helping others. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I take pride in my house-to-house ministry where I study the Bible with all who are interested. During this time, however, our house-to-house ministry was suspended because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, I was determined to reach out to others as I participated in our letter writing and phone call campaign. I would spend up to thirty hours a month writing letters and calling people in our community to offer them an encouraging thought from the Bible despite the difficult times people were facing worldwide. Perspective and perseverance were two key words that I tried to reflect on during this period in my life. It was important for me to have the right perspective about the challenges I was facing because, through my ministry, I spoke with people who were struggling with so much more than I was. Many had lost their jobs, became seriously ill, or lost several loved ones in death. I was not experiencing any of these things at the time, so reflecting on them helped me to think outside of myself and focus more on how I could assist others. Additionally, I reflected on the importance of perseverance, because while I understood that many were facing more challenges than me, this did not invalidate my struggles emotionally and how critical it was for me to plow ahead and figure out how to manage them healthily. To this day, I continue to balance these two abilities, which have made me a more well-rounded person and better equipped to face any challenges that come my way.

February of 2020 may have been the last period many enjoyed before communities implemented COVID-19 shutdowns, but there was very little for me to enjoy that month. On February 12, 2020, I received some of the most heartbreaking news of my life as my mother sat me down and explained that my father had been incarcerated. This was devastating news that I had significant challenges coping with because I always had a very close relationship with my father. This information coupled with the isolation I felt due to the shutdowns that began the following month caused me to fall into a deep depression. Having the motivation to complete everyday tasks became difficult for me, and some of my biggest hobbies such as playing the guitar suddenly ceased to bring me the joy that I once felt. I developed a negative outlook on life in general, as the betrayal I felt caused me to become very cynical and mistrustful of others. As insurmountable as these struggles felt at the time, eventually I realized that I had to make some changes to my thought process and actions. Feeling sorry for myself had gotten me nowhere, and was clearly no longer an option. I could not, and will not ever be able to control the actions of my father or anyone else for that matter, but I was in complete control of myself and how I chose to respond to the negativity in my life. Instead of focusing so much of my energy on myself and the challenges I was facing, I soon began to understand the importance of channeling that energy toward helping others. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I take pride in my house-to-house ministry where I study the Bible with all who are interested. During this time, however, our house-to-house ministry was suspended because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, I was determined to reach out to others as I participated in our letter writing and phone call campaign. I would spend up to thirty hours a month writing letters and calling people in our community to offer them an encouraging thought from the Bible despite the difficult times people were facing worldwide. Perspective and perseverance were two key words that I tried to reflect on during this period in my life. It was important for me to have the right perspective about the challenges I was facing because, through my ministry, I spoke with people who were struggling with so much more than I was. Many had lost their jobs, became seriously ill, or lost several loved ones in death. I was not experiencing any of these things at the time, so reflecting on them helped me to think outside of myself and focus more on how I could assist others. Additionally, I reflected on the importance of perseverance, because while I understood that many were facing more challenges than me, this did not invalidate my struggles emotionally and how critical it was for me to plow ahead and figure out how to manage them healthily. To this day, I continue to balance these two abilities, which have made me a more well-rounded person and better equipped to face any challenges that come my way.

February of 2020 may have been the last period many enjoyed before communities implemented COVID-19 shutdowns, but there was very little for me to enjoy that month. On February 12, 2020, I received some of the most heartbreaking news of my life as my mother sat me down and explained that my father had been incarcerated. This was devastating news that I had significant challenges coping with because I always had a very close relationship with my father. This information coupled with the isolation I felt due to the shutdowns that began the following month caused me to fall into a deep depression. Having the motivation to complete everyday tasks became difficult for me, and some of my biggest hobbies such as playing the guitar suddenly ceased to bring me the joy that I once felt. I developed a negative outlook on life in general, as the betrayal I felt caused me to become very cynical and mistrustful of others. As insurmountable as these struggles felt at the time, eventually I realized that I had to make some changes to my thought process and actions. Feeling sorry for myself had gotten me nowhere, and was clearly no longer an option. I could not, and will not ever be able to control the actions of my father or anyone else for that matter, but I was in complete control of myself and how I chose to respond to the negativity in my life. Instead of focusing so much of my energy on myself and the challenges I was facing, I soon began to understand the importance of channeling that energy toward helping others. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I take pride in my house-to-house ministry where I study the Bible with all who are interested. During this time, however, our house-to-house ministry was suspended because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, I was determined to reach out to others as I participated in our letter writing and phone call campaign. I would spend up to thirty hours a month writing letters and calling people in our community to offer them an encouraging thought from the Bible despite the difficult times people were facing worldwide. Perspective and perseverance were two key words that I tried to reflect on during this period in my life. It was important for me to have the right perspective about the challenges I was facing because, through my ministry, I spoke with people who were struggling with so much more than I was. Many had lost their jobs, became seriously ill, or lost several loved ones in death. I was not experiencing any of these things at the time, so reflecting on them helped me to think outside of myself and focus more on how I could assist others. Additionally, I reflected on the importance of perseverance, because while I understood that many were facing more challenges than me, this did not invalidate my struggles emotionally and how critical it was for me to plow ahead and figure out how to manage them healthily. To this day, I continue to balance these two abilities, which have made me a more well-rounded person and better equipped to face any challenges that come my way.

February of 2020 may have been the last period many enjoyed before communities implemented COVID-19 shutdowns, but there was very little for me to enjoy that month. On February 12, 2020, I received some of the most heartbreaking news of my life as my mother sat me down and explained that my father had been incarcerated. This was devastating news that I had significant challenges coping with because I always had a very close relationship with my father. This information coupled with the isolation I felt due to the shutdowns that began the following month caused me to fall into a deep depression. Having the motivation to complete everyday tasks became difficult for me, and some of my biggest hobbies such as playing the guitar suddenly ceased to bring me the joy that I once felt. I developed a negative outlook on life in general, as the betrayal I felt caused me to become very cynical and mistrustful of others. As insurmountable as these struggles felt at the time, eventually I realized that I had to make some changes to my thought process and actions. Feeling sorry for myself had gotten me nowhere, and was clearly no longer an option. I could not, and will not ever be able to control the actions of my father or anyone else for that matter, but I was in complete control of myself and how I chose to respond to the negativity in my life. Instead of focusing so much of my energy on myself and the challenges I was facing, I soon began to understand the importance of channeling that energy toward helping others. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I take pride in my house-to-house ministry where I study the Bible with all who are interested. During this time, however, our house-to-house ministry was suspended because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, I was determined to reach out to others as I participated in our letter writing and phone call campaign. I would spend up to thirty hours a month writing letters and calling people in our community to offer them an encouraging thought from the Bible despite the difficult times people were facing worldwide. Perspective and perseverance were two key words that I tried to reflect on during this period in my life. It was important for me to have the right perspective about the challenges I was facing because, through my ministry, I spoke with people who were struggling with so much more than I was. Many had lost their jobs, became seriously ill, or lost several loved ones in death. I was not experiencing any of these things at the time, so reflecting on them helped me to think outside of myself and focus more on how I could assist others. Additionally, I reflected on the importance of perseverance, because while I understood that many were facing more challenges than me, this did not invalidate my struggles emotionally and how critical it was for me to plow ahead and figure out how to manage them healthily. To this day, I continue to balance these two abilities, which have made me a more well-rounded person and better equipped to face any challenges that come my way.

February of 2020 may have been the last period many enjoyed before communities implemented COVID-19 shutdowns, but there was very little for me to enjoy that month. On February 12, 2020, I received some of the most heartbreaking news of my life as my mother sat me down and explained that my father had been incarcerated. This was devastating news that I had significant challenges coping with because I always had a very close relationship with my father. This information coupled with the isolation I felt due to the shutdowns that began the following month caused me to fall into a deep depression. Having the motivation to complete everyday tasks became difficult for me, and some of my biggest hobbies such as playing the guitar suddenly ceased to bring me the joy that I once felt. I developed a negative outlook on life in general, as the betrayal I felt caused me to become very cynical and mistrustful of others. As insurmountable as these struggles felt at the time, eventually I realized that I had to make some changes to my thought process and actions. Feeling sorry for myself had gotten me nowhere, and was clearly no longer an option. I could not, and will not ever be able to control the actions of my father or anyone else for that matter, but I was in complete control of myself and how I chose to respond to the negativity in my life. Instead of focusing so much of my energy on myself and the challenges I was facing, I soon began to understand the importance of channeling that energy toward helping others. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I take pride in my house-to-house ministry where I study the Bible with all who are interested. During this time, however, our house-to-house ministry was suspended because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, I was determined to reach out to others as I participated in our letter writing and phone call campaign. I would spend up to thirty hours a month writing letters and calling people in our community to offer them an encouraging thought from the Bible despite the difficult times people were facing worldwide. Perspective and perseverance were two key words that I tried to reflect on during this period in my life. It was important for me to have the right perspective about the challenges I was facing because, through my ministry, I spoke with people who were struggling with so much more than I was. Many had lost their jobs, became seriously ill, or lost several loved ones in death. I was not experiencing any of these things at the time, so reflecting on them helped me to think outside of myself and focus more on how I could assist others. Additionally, I reflected on the importance of perseverance, because while I understood that many were facing more challenges than me, this did not invalidate my struggles emotionally and how critical it was for me to plow ahead and figure out how to manage them healthily. To this day, I continue to balance these two abilities, which have made me a more well-rounded person and better equipped to face any challenges that come my way.