Page 80 - My Memoirs - Max Kurz

Epilogue
The events or memories recorded here are meant to be a summary or an overview of what happened in those years, as in all our lives there is so much that has transpired and to remember all is a feat in itself. I am certain that much has been omitted. What I have recorded will in some way provide the reader with an understanding of how my journey evolved.
My life’s journey like all our lives followed a few different pathways, I use the analogy like climbing a mountain. It was difficult to begin with, plenty of challenges, crevasses, plateaus, I was never concerned with reaching the summit, only with finding a better understanding to an easier pathway. I am one of the lucky ones, because I was able to learn a great deal on the way, the higher I climbed, the better I could see and appreciate from where I had come. I am truly a very fortunate person to have lived a life and to reach my eightieth year and feel happy, loved and content with who I am. There were several crossroads where I could have taken the wrong road, but destiny has it that the path that I chose, maybe not consciously, but consequently led me to where I am today.
What have I learnt? Things do not necessarily go the way you would like. We cannot always plan our journey; we are governed by circumstances. However, there are times when we have choices, we may not think so at the time, the question is when those choices arise, are we aware of them and how can we be sure that we have chosen wisely?
We are all born at a time and into circumstances not of our choosing, nor can we choose our parents. We are borne into an environment and era, which will influence our lives, particularly in those formative years. Ultimately this may make our journey or climb a little harder or easier.
Where it becomes easier is if the foundation is strong, when we have received love, when we have been nurtured, encouraged to think, to learn, to question, to empathise, to be respectful of self and others, all of which contributes to self- worth. The stronger we are within, the stronger our relationships are, and our ability to realise our own unique potential.
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