You make thousands of decisions every day. Some are simple, such as hitting snooze on the alarm clock or choosing what to eat for breakfast, while others – like deciding who to marry, or what career to pursue – require deep reflection, thought and analysis.
Each choice shapes what is to come in some small way, but occasionally, a decision has the magnitude to be life changing. This kind of moment can change who we are and what we value, with reverberations throughout our careers and personal lives.
While it’s still up for debate exactly how much of our morality comes from personal experiences, many of us can think of at least one experience that has defined us and our beliefs.
Lain Hensley, chief operating officer at Odyssey Teams, recalls the fear and loneliness he felt when he was diagnosed with cancer, for example. His illness exposed weaknesses in his leadership and as a result, he writes, he has become “a better man, husband, father, employer, speaker and friend”.
Other influential moments can come down to a single conversation. After her boss, former Las Vegas mayor Jan Jones, pointed out in a speech at a gala that Gwen Migita was afraid that she wouldn’t be accepted if she was honest about her partner at work, she found the courage to be open about her sexuality. Migita went from hiding her real self at work to setting up the gaming industry’s first LGBT employee group and publicly marrying her partner.
Now it’s your turn
Tell us about a defining moment in your life. It can be an experience that shaped your values, a conversation that determined your career, an event that changed the course of your life or anything else that you believe has defined who you are.
Submit a short blog post of no more than 600 words describing the experience and how it has influenced you. Let us know if you’d like to submit audio or video by checking the appropriate box below.
Once you’ve sent us your story, we’ll get back to you and let you know if you’ve been selected for publication on the Guardian. We’re looking forward to hearing your stories!
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