Do this, don't do this, it's okay

[Joella]

I've taken a few wrong turns here and there. But I've made some right turns too. It's hard to always do the right thing, say the right thing. I've always wanted to be one of those people who always seem to get it right. That would be so cool. But by now I know that's just not going to happen. It's not part of my core.

Like many who have, and many who are, I'm looking the age of 60 right in the eyes. I've lost people who were my guiding lights. Even when we fought we fought standing on a base of firm, hardwood love, and in those points in time we were learning from each other, streaming live love back and forth. Thank goodness for memories!

Making mistakes, making wrong turns, those things serve a purpose, especially when done in public. When we get to this age we are surrounded by others who have lost their guiding lights too. We become examples for each other to either follow or to show hey, don't do that, don't go there, don't say that. Or, go ahead, it's okay.

No matter how old we get it's important to be who we are; never lose that 'thing' that has always been our core self. Somebody somewhere needs us just that way, flaws and all.

[Joella]

Thank you Quinn and Baia. Your words have hit their mark beautifully.

[Baia]

I am grateful for all the people in my life who let me go rather than keep me prisoner and make me change.  Of course, at the time, I wondered what was WRONG with me.

[Quinn]

One of the many lessons taught to me by father at a young age was to understand that not everyone was going to love me, or even like me. He told me that my true friends would love me flaws and all and that they were the people I could count on to be there for me.

I believed him then and, it has proven to be true.

I'm glad I didn't spend too much time on the people who had unrealistic expectations of me and instead focused my time and energy on the people who loved me, the people I learned from, the people who made me a better person...