A Word To The Wise

“We don’t become our wisest selves without effort. Our growth requires us to become skilled in perspective taking, in managing our emotions, in crafting positive narratives, and in forming intimate relationships. We develop the skills of building joy, gratitude, and meaning into every day. By learning these lessons, we cultivate emotional resilience.

~Mary Pipher, Women Rowing North

I love the idea of being able to grow and change still at 55. So many people hit adulthood and then go on cruise control, and while they still take in facts, perhaps know more about the world, in the important areas like emotional resilience, gratitude and intimacy, they remain stagnant. As if the act of becoming an adult, turning 18 or 21, formed who you essentially are and there is nothing more to be done in the arena. I am very interested in the positive narrative. Looking at situations that anger, confound or frustrate, then trying to see them from a different point of view. Not making ugly assumptions or, at least, trying to see the broken person beneath the action.

I plan on growing until the day I die, there's always room for improvement.