THE TRICK...

— Carlos Castaneda

This reminds me of what I've realized a few times in my life, which is that you can tell the same story, emphasizing different things and it leads to completely different conclusions and therefore, followup actions also.

For instance, I bet every one of you can talk about certain times in your life when you struggled through something and the end result brought you to a place you couldn't have predicted, whether that was a relationship, a job or something else.

I know in my own life, an example is that I had absolutely amazing parents. But they were neglectful in certain ways. And my father leaving when I was a little girl is the main trauma of my life that's had big repercussions.

Not suggesting whitewashing experiences — we have to face the tough stuff or it just hangs around and festers. But the way we steer ourselves is our choice. And choosing to focus on what moves us forward makes us happier and more able to make a difference than focusing on resentment or regret.

What do you feel?