Shecky’s

A while back, we asked our Shecksters to use Beyoncé’s hit song “Best Thing I Never Had” as an inspiration to tell us the best thing that they never had. Thousands of you entered, and the stories (and dedication to Ms. B!) were all inspiring. It was tough to pick our final four, but here they are!

GRAND-PRIZE WINNER:

If I had to choose one thing to be the best thing I never had, it would be a normal body. When I was younger, I was in a car crash with a drunk driver, leaving me with a broken neck, collarbone, femur and jaw. All of my fingers were broken as well. From something as big as that, you can recover, but there will always be difficulties and things that are physically obvious. I deal with a major speech impediment, a limp to my walk and slightly limited movement on my left side.

Even though I have all of this, a normal body is the best thing I never had because having these disabilities has made me work so much harder for everything I do now. I am a student, a dancer, a nature-lover…and nothing is going to get in my way!

-Chris S.

3 RUNNERS-UP:

The best thing I never had is a bad marriage. I was engaged to a guy who was physically and emotionally abusive. He made me feel like I was less than deserving of love and respect.

Beyonce’s song “Me, Myself and I” gave me the strength and resolve to walk away from that relationship. Eight years later, I’m so happy to say that he is the best thing I NEVER had!

-Camille W.

Four-and-a-half years ago, my (now ex) boyfriend woke up, rolled over and said those dreaded words to me, “I don’t love you anymore.” I thought my world was falling apart—we had been together for five years and had plans to get married and be together forever.

Shortly after we broke up, I learned that he had been cheating on me and had started a new relationship with the other woman. Instead of my world falling apart/ending like I thought it would, I picked up and moved to New York City to follow my dreams and find true happiness and success. Today, I couldn’t be happier, and when I recently learned my ex was moving with his wife (yep, same girl he cheated on me with) to Kentucky, I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief.

I just graduated with my masters from NYU, have a great job, apartment, boyfriend and friends in NYC. I live in the greatest city in the world and opportunities and awesome experiences keep coming my way. He is definitely the best thing I never had and I couldn’t be more grateful to have dodged that bullet. Thank you, Beyoncé, for being a constant source of inspiration for a fellow Texan Girl. You are such a wonderful spirit!

-Emily R.

Okay, so I’m going to reach back a little bit for this one, but the best thing I NEVER had as a child was a house of my own. I know that sounds crazy, so let me explain. My, mother, my brother and I were homeless for the better part of my childhood. We lived with family members, friends, strangers and even in a homeless shelter. The reason this turned out to be the best thing I NEVER had is because it created a bond between my family that could never be broken. My brother and my mother are my best friends!

Also, my mother never let us believe we were poor. She told us it was a “Life Adventure” and that we were to make the best out of every situation, no matter how good or bad. I grew up knowing and understanding the appreciation of life and all its adventures. I understood and still understand to this day that although there are things we think we want, we may be better off without them. I appreciate my mother for everything she did for me and my brother, all the sacrifices she made.

Today, I am a Sergeant in the Air Force and I take care of her full time so she can go to school and complete her degree…a dream she had to give up to raise me and my brother. The best thing I NEVER had was a house to call my own. But the best thing I EVER had was a mother who still found a way to make us a home.

-Nicole W.

GIRL TALK TIME: What do you think of these entries? What is the best thing you NEVER had?