Dammit, Lisbeth... you got me with nearly every single one of these. Especially the one about transgender folks. My oldest child is trans and it's a daily struggle for confidence, for mental health, for self-acceptance and for self-love. And the one about the pocket of love no one can touch.... I effin' LOVE that one. It is so, so true. I am Mama Bear. Despite all of the struggles we have, no one - NO ONE - can EVER come between me and my love for my children. No matter what. That is the hill I will die on, any and every time.
What else I know:
- Hard work doesn't always get you what you want. That doesn't mean it's not worth it.
- It doesn't matter what others think; if you don't believe it yourself, it's not real. What you believe about yourself is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. So be your biggest fan.
- Your parents did the best they could, with the information they had, given the psychological/mental health support they had at time. Very few parents wake up and think to themselves, "How can I mess up my children today?". So give them the benefit of the doubt.
- We all carry some trauma from our childhood (even those of us with privilege). We usually inflict this psychological trauma upon our loved ones unconsciously. Forgive yourself and your loved ones for it. Your job as an adult is to recognize it and not to hold blame, but to be compassionate now that you know, and to do the best you can to parent yourself, break the cycle, and be as mindful as possible in every interaction. You can't control what might have happened to you, but you can can control how you respond to it.
- Sharing a deep belly laugh with a best friend is a sacred experience, and should not be taken for granted. Friends are not guaranteed in life, and they should be appreciated as the treasures and blessings they are.
So good, Emily! Thank you for sharing those lessons. On the mark. I always try to remember my parents did the very best they could ... and sometimes I have to remind my kids the same about me! And trans kids are special. Here's hoping more folks come to realize that.
Dammit, Lisbeth... you got me with nearly every single one of these. Especially the one about transgender folks. My oldest child is trans and it's a daily struggle for confidence, for mental health, for self-acceptance and for self-love. And the one about the pocket of love no one can touch.... I effin' LOVE that one. It is so, so true. I am Mama Bear. Despite all of the struggles we have, no one - NO ONE - can EVER come between me and my love for my children. No matter what. That is the hill I will die on, any and every time.
What else I know:
- Hard work doesn't always get you what you want. That doesn't mean it's not worth it.
- It doesn't matter what others think; if you don't believe it yourself, it's not real. What you believe about yourself is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. So be your biggest fan.
- Your parents did the best they could, with the information they had, given the psychological/mental health support they had at time. Very few parents wake up and think to themselves, "How can I mess up my children today?". So give them the benefit of the doubt.
- We all carry some trauma from our childhood (even those of us with privilege). We usually inflict this psychological trauma upon our loved ones unconsciously. Forgive yourself and your loved ones for it. Your job as an adult is to recognize it and not to hold blame, but to be compassionate now that you know, and to do the best you can to parent yourself, break the cycle, and be as mindful as possible in every interaction. You can't control what might have happened to you, but you can can control how you respond to it.
- Sharing a deep belly laugh with a best friend is a sacred experience, and should not be taken for granted. Friends are not guaranteed in life, and they should be appreciated as the treasures and blessings they are.
So good, Emily! Thank you for sharing those lessons. On the mark. I always try to remember my parents did the very best they could ... and sometimes I have to remind my kids the same about me! And trans kids are special. Here's hoping more folks come to realize that.
I am enough.
Not once, in the history of the world, has anyone woken up and said, "I wish I had one more beer last night."
Ahahaha! Truth, Scott!
Everything is fine until it isn't. Change is part of the deal.
Bingo.
Bad times feel like they last forever.
Good times are over in an instant.
But, in reality, these moments in time often last the same.
Force yourself to remember that the bad won't last.
Force yourself to be grateful for the good and treasure it forever.
Good advice, Larry!
Oh yeah! Bonnie’s version is my usual go-to. So good!
Excellent additions! Thanks, Cheri!
Ooooo was that a cello in there? Or a viola? And John Prine's version as well. Lordy I miss that man.