Such occasions

I was in a group of young people and they were discussing events in their lives that had shaped their character and made them courageous. All kinds of stories surfaced. One person mentioned that the father of a girl he was dating had told him not to come again because of a racial difference between them. Another person spoke of having to stand up to a bully. Other storied ensued. Finally, one girl said that her defining moment came when her dad had walked out on the family and left them penniless and they had to go without food some days and skimp by on other days. Another person spoke after that telling how his father had committed suicide on New Year's Day this year. I see that every person is etched by life with at least one defining moment, which means that I see a lot of people of great character in the world at a young age. I don't worry so much about the future after such occasions as these.