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[krashjaxon-blog]

Introduction

The title of this biography is based on my favorite quote. “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees,” - Mexican General Emiliano Zapata. The first time I heard this quote was in a song by Midnight Oil and it struck me that that is how I wanted to live my life. I have fought to become the person I am today because my early life was a struggle and I could have easily ended up either a statistic or a lost soul in a small town not knowing just how big and different the world is from where I came from. 

I am writing this biography for my daughter and nephew. They came into my life when I was considered too old to have children but too young to quit wanting to be a mother. I was 35 years old and 15 years into my military career in the Navy and had seen and done many things but I yearned to know unconditional love and to care for someone more than myself. 

My daughter gave me that and more and shortly before I retired from the Navy my nephew joined us in our home to be raised with her. They are the main reason I keep pushing myself to achieve more and I want them to know who I was before they came into my life and who I have become because of them. 

My early life was not easy but because of those struggles, I became a fighter. Like many children from my generation, I was raised under the moniker, “spare the rod, spoil the child,” but sometimes my parents and other family took that belief a bit too far. I survived and I took what I learned from those experiences and I used them to my advantage. Even so, I wouldn’t wish those experiences on my kids but I do want to impart on them the wisdom of what I’ve learned.

Some of the things I’ve learned that I think will benefit them is to understand some basic things about life. Things like hard work, determination, empathy, resistance, taking chances, choosing associations wisely, and to not be reactive during a crisis. Believing in these things has served me well and I hope they believe in them too. 

I also believe in leading by example so I treat them the way I hope they will in turn treat others, with dignity and respect until given a reason to do otherwise. I am starting this story at a time when our country is facing many dilemmas that are pitting us against each other. I believe we will get through this stage of heightened division but what will it cost us to get there? I don’t know but I need to make sure my kids are prepared to make the best decisions they can if and when conflicts arise to challenge them. 

I hope the story of my life inspires them and maybe others to work hard and go after what they want in life. Any delay in pursuing one’s dreams means less is achieved in one’s life, which may equal regret when you reach your end of days. I think regret is part of life but it doesn't have to be overpowering. As long as I can look back and see that I went after my dreams, that I made an effort to do more than just exist, my regrets will be insignificant as long if my kids are trying to live their best lives too. 

If you care to read on, my story will be divided into chapters based on grouping my experiences under specific topics such as romance, friendships, challenges, family, and other areas of life that most of us can relate to. I wanted to do this for a long time and I wanted to put it in a place where my kids can read it and I can take and turn into an actual book one day so here goes everything!