I can do nothing about the behaviour or assumptions of others, but I can maintain my equanimity and do the work on myself if I am triggered.

Choice can start with realizing that we want things to be different, that we want to be different and then deciding if we want to be different.  This can be followed by working on identifying our reactions, working to understand them before working to learn the different responses that are possible.

When someone revisits an issue it means that they haven’t healed from it yet, whether circumstances have changed or not. This is a perspective that I shall certainly try to hold onto in order to practice grace with others and myself.

We get to choose what we focus on, we get to choose to believe that we can control ourselves, we get to choose to pause before reacting, thereby choosing if and how we respond.

I truly believe that when people find the space to be heard without judgement, they will rise to be their best selves.  And when that happens, everyone wins.

The selves we create, sometimes purposely, sometimes without a full understanding of how or why, can be so deeply ingrained that we cannot accept when the mirror shows us that we are not who we think we are.

I realized that I have to live my life according to who I am, not reacting to how I have been treated.

February is bittersweet for me ... I used to sink into a black hole because of the fact that it is the anniversary of a failed marriage. It also marks years of learning from my mistakes, appreciating who I am, what is important to me and most importantly trusting that voice inside that sounds the quiet alarm when all is not well.

Let’s agree to live intentionally going forward.

The silver lining is this, even though I repeated a behaviour, I was aware and knew I could make a different choice. This means that next time I should be able to stop myself before the injury takes place.

The person you live with the longest is yourself, extend yourself the grace and respect to make the choices that are best for you!

I am glad I was willing to adapt, to learn and be a little uncomfortable at first because I am now reaping a benefit that I did not anticipate.

We have the power this year, every day, to choose what we tell ourselves, what we repeat and what we resolve to do. Let’s choose with kindness, grace and faith.

I can’t apologise for a hurt I didn’t know that I caused. And it is not my responsibility to assume that I know what has happened and these truths are true for you too.

Our feelings are like alarms or guideposts, they are not labels or identities. Choosing healing and growth may seem impossible especially if we have lived with pain for a long time but it is possible.

This is a story about doing the right thing when it would have been easy not do so, and that act of integrity creating a ripple effect of generosity of spirit.

I like my grey hair. Those who know me relatively well know that I am quick to say, “Having grey hair beats the alternative!”

Have you noticed that once the decision is made to do something difficult, peace can be found in the midst of the struggle?

How often do we harm ourselves by firing a pre-emptive strike waiting for an attack that never happens? How often do we find ourselves recovering from hurt because we choose to ignore the early warning signs?

Nurture and nature, association and socialization all play a role in who we are and how we live.