I am going to frame the above saying to sit on my desk. As the oldest
of five children, to parents stretched thin by my father's accident and my
mother's return to the workforce, at ten years old I was helping to care for
and make decisions for my siblings. Any wonder I grew up and joined the
business world and took on similar roles?
From May 2016 through February 2017, a series of unfortunate events in
my life meant I had to step back and examine how I could change me so I could
curtail elevated levels of anxiety and be able to breathe. Meditation, better
health habits, and quality time with Joe and close friends all helped me to
gain perspective. I figured out that I did not have a responsibility to make
suggestions when people came to me with their problems. I learned to listen and
empathize. I learned to wait until I was asked for an idea.
I learned that sometimes the best gift we give is to listen without
judgement. Sometimes that was incredibly difficult for me. Especially since the
answer seemed obvious to me. I would keep silent and coach myself with the idea
that a friend's situation was the same as letting my child make her own
decisions and succeed or fail on her own. Was I always successful at stilling
my advice? Heck no. I WAS trying though.
Had I had the framed saying above, I think I would have been more
successful. I will keep working on me. Who knew that would be such a job when I
got older?
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