Own your choices

This is my from: 

 (80yr.old Scottish grandmother). 'Get your priorities straight. Education is important. Work to pay for it if you have to.  Being poor myself and siblings were sent out to work as we Needed money to bring into the family. Staying on at school was not an option. Young people need to think carefully about  What they want in their future.  

Choose your company wisely. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing. You don't have to follow the crowd.  If your even a bit lonely don't follow others into bad habits just to fit in.' 

 I really wish I'd had that advice at 21! 

An  Art teacher wrote on my art history assignment once, 'it would make me turn in my grave if I knew you were serving cups of tea in life instead of using your fine mind' . It took me another 10 yrs to take this advice. 

A turning point in my life was Having my son at 22yrs. Feeling unconditional love for him, knew I had to work hard to for him and stop avoiding life. I had to strive to be the best version of myself that i could be. After battling domestic violence, anxiety and depression I finished two degrees and learned to live alone until I met my husband now. I Have eventually made a meaningful life for myself and not for anyone else. 

 Listen more, talk less. Talk to the elderly and listen to their views and learn from their history, good and bad. Listen for meaning behind what they say. 

Listen to who you truely are as well. When I was Feeling stuck in my life I had created, I needed to stop being a victim and instead let go of fear and be  responsible for my own actions. 

Enjoy natural pleasures that don't cost anything, like walking in nature.  Live in the moment and be grateful. If you feel wronged by anyone, be compassionate for their troubles, but be strong and stand up for goodness. You don't have to condone their behaviour but you need to forgive for your own well being. 

Hard times are part of life. If you didn't experience hard times then you wouldn't recognise the happy ones. We are meant to feel a whole range of feelings in this life and that is normal. 

'Take chances, make mistakes, that's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail to learn how to be brave' Mary Tyler Moore. (1936-  American actress). 

Learn to say in real life to someone what you have said with your heart in a greeting card or  you may regret it.  Stop blaming others and get in the game.