A happy childhood..hmmm

I just read a quote from Agatha Christie, here is what it said. "One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think, to have a happy childhood." If you have read any of my blogs you will know I had a mostly, tragic, and depressing childhood with bits of greatness in between all the volcanoes that were erupting around me. Think of it like being surrounded by hot lava constantly, and then all of a sudden you see some green grass, you make a break for it only to be scorched by the lava again that appeared out of no where. The volcano continually erupts and you think when does this end?
At this moment I will tell you in all honestly I don't know if I agree with her or not. I am sure as I am writing I will have some sort of epiphany. Let me start with a story. Most of my family members did not have happy childhoods. I do know of one friend that had a very happy childhood.
She was an only child, her parents showered her with love, she wanted for nothing, she got whatever she wanted, and all attention was on her. She had all the great celebratory parties for her 13th, her 16th, her 18th, and her 21st birthday. She had amazing graduation parties, and basically a really happy childhood that was stress free. I love her. But reality is this, she cannot cope in the real world.
At the age of twenty three she still has not graduated from any college or gotten her associates degree, she could not survive one real tragedy, she has never lived on her own, and every little thing, and I am talking little, turns into the biggest hurdle that she could not possibly jump over.
She has no survival skills what so ever, and worse yet she has no drive. I am sure, as with anything, there is exceptions to the rules. I know there are people out there that have great childhoods and turn into fabulous functioning adults.
I was not lucky in the area of happiness as a child. I hope you were. Here is what I think the luckiest thing is that can happen to you, it comes from within, inner peace. I also don't believe our childhoods were luck. I believe we were placed exactly where we were supposed to be.
I am leading into my question for you: do you have inner peace? Inner peace allows you to want to better yourself and the ones around you. Inner peace is a gift that God wants us all to have, but few have it. 90% of the time I have inner peace. When I feel peaceful inside I accomplish a lot. When I don't have inner peace that means I am usually worrying and my anxiety level is so high that I cannot sit down and concentrate for a second.
How do we get inner peace? I don't think it comes from a perfect childhood, I believe inner peace comes from knowing you are doing the best that you can possibly do, you treat yourself with respect, and others with respect. You shower the ones around you with love, you appreciate all you have been given, you don't wish for more than you have, yet you continue to work hard to get to where you want to be, you don't blame others for your mishaps and woes, you are not a victim, you are in control of your feelings and emotions, you realize this too shall pass when faced with adversity. Realize and remember, the bad times don't last forever, those bad times are only a stepping stones to get to the next place you need to be. Instead of being scared, be excited! Think about what great place you will be lead to next. Instead of being afraid of the unknown, be excited about it. Embrace the adventure of life. You can only do that if you have inner peace.
So here is a quote from Heather Catherine Hogan; "I think the luckiest thing that can happen to a person in life is finding their inner peace."