Exploring the fabric of our stories one character at a time.

Reading Between the Everyday Lines

I had a rough few days lately. Criticism is never easy to hear, no matter how it is delivered. Add in the constant feeling of not being good enough, and criticism is even harder to handle. No one likes being told they did something wrong. So, when I received some criticism a couple of days ago, it was a hit to my emotions. Delivery I am not going to get into how the critique was delivered by the other person. This one was blunt and straight forward. But whether it was softened or harsh, getting news that something you did …

The choice is always yours

When I was studying for my masters, I came across a theorist that came up with the Choice Theory. The theory states that we have full control and choice on how we react to events in our lives. That we are responsible for our own behavior and emotions. And I have to be completely honest, it wasn’t until I really thought about it, but I believe this. The choice really is ours. Hardest Choice It will never be easy to do, but I firmly believe that you can choose how you feel and how you react to things that happen …

Just remember I am not you

I will probably make this week’s post short. Time management is not my friend today. But there is a message I want to share. So many times we come across a loved one or a friend or just someone we know that is in a situation similar to what we have already experienced. Ask every mother in the world about how many times they received “advice” from another mother because they “knew” what they were going through. You are not me and I am not you. Situations are always going to feel similar. But the main piece that is different …

We all have one and rarely used

Every day we try to use it. Some succeed in using it the best way. Others tend to use it selfishly. Something we all have and do not use very well. Our voice. How difficult it can be for us to come out and actually say what we want. For too many people, using our voice is frightening. Others, using it is liberating. But for me, my it is unfamiliar. Learn I cannot remember how to use my voice, but I am learning. Too many years have I kept silent that I should have been using. Didn’t want to “rock …

Not the same, just different people

I have not met one person that is not dealing with some kind of stress in their life. They maybe having a good day today, but yesterday was a hard one. A good friend of mine is dealing with an ailing parent and all of the stress that comes with it. I know she is tired and frustrated. So, when I have my bad days, I feel bad for asking for comfort. Why am I feeling so bad when my friend has it worse? Not Similar You cannot compare your life to anyone else’s. You may have similarities in the …

How to describe it all

We all get asked a simple question, “how are you doing?” But lately, I cannot answer it. When I take a second to think about it, I can’t tell if I am okay or not. I don’t know if I am happy or not. And that is when I realize that I can’t describe it all. Because I feel numb. But it’s numb from feeling it all. There are so many emotions running through, I feel none of it. So how do I answer the question. How can I describe it? Patterns Someone pointed out to me recently that I …

How bad do you want to fight for it?

Is life a series of patterns? Seems like it. Because someone recently pointed out to me that I am following a pattern lately. It is not something I realize I do, but very easy to fall into. You know the pattern. First you fight for what you want. Then you see some change and are happier. So, you start to relax a little, only to find you stop getting what you want. You get frustrated but are too tired to fight for it again. You end up almost giving up. That is until you have enough and fight once again. …

Finding balance in life without tipping the scales

Up or down, left or right. Are you happy or sad? Is it dark or bright? There are 24 hours in one day. That is 24 hours to do everything you can to find happiness. But no true happiness can be found unless you have balance in your life. A way to manage the negativity in your life to enjoy the positive. It won’t take much for life to tip the scales in any one direction. One Sided I lost count of how many times I felt undeserving. Like parties and groups that have raffles, I never win. Rewards and …

How are you really doing?

I must tell you something. I never realized fully how this simple act changed everything for me. Down in the darkness, unable to focus, and feeling all alone. One simple act brought me back. It took someone reaching out and asking, “how are you?” But then it was another person. And then another. They reached out to me and brought me back to the brighter days. That’s it. A simple act of caring about someone enough to ask, “how are you?” The Dark It is very easy to get trapped into a pit of despair. Not being able to find …

How I Domino Effect in My Life

Ever notice how you having a bad day affects people around you? The day may be brighter one day or cloudier the next. The way an individual’s mood or behavior shifts can impact those around them. Daily experiences can influence one’s actions, such as driving or communication style, which in turn affect perceptions. Influence is not isolated; others are also affected, much like a line of dominos changing direction when touched. Stress I have been having some very stressful times in life lately. Long workdays that blended into nights and weekends. My attitude was tight and short. Trying to focus …