A little Monday reflection for you because, at 61, I can honestly say every experience, good, bad, or heartbreaking, has been a teacher guiding me to this moment.
When you’re young, failure feels final. But I’ve learned that failure is really opportunity. It’s a chance to take what you’ve lived through, weave it into who you are, and grow into someone new.
I didn’t always see it this way. It took years of living, learning, and yes, stumbling, to realize that every relationship, every season, even the ones that drained me, were shaping me into the woman I am today—and the one I’m still becoming.
Now, I try to lean into each chapter of life with intention, but also with openness and adventure. I embrace the ebb and flow, I live fully, and I love every stage for what it is.
I’m grateful for today and excited for the magic that tomorrow will bring – carla hall
Set aside 20 minutes to take a walk outside by yourself every day for a week. Try to stick to this schedule unless the weather is extremely bad. You can still do this exercise in a light rain—provided you have a decent umbrella and rain jacket.
As you walk, try to notice as many positive things around you as you can. These can be sights, sounds, smells, or other sensations. For example, you could focus on the breathtaking height of a tree you never really noticed before, the intricate architecture of a building on your block, the dance of sunshine off a window or puddle, the smell of grass or flowers, or the way other people look out for each other as they navigate crowded streets.
As you notice each of these positive things, acknowledge each one in your mind—don’t just let them slip past you. Pause for a moment as you hear or see each thing and make sure it registers with your conscious awareness, really take it in. Try to identify what it is about that thing that makes it pleasurable to you.
Try to walk a different route each day so you don’t become too accustomed to any of these things and start to take them for granted.
“I’m an auntie to 18 nieces and nephews. My sisters say it’s unfair I only buy presents for some of them. I’m doing well financially, but gifts for 18 nieces and nephews add up. I don’t have strong bonds with all of my siblings, and it’s the same with my nieces and nephews, most of whom are teenagers.”
De La Rosa: Money is just a symptom of the core issue, which is someone asking for closeness and connection. Your siblings are saying, “Hey, I want you to love my children in the same way you love our other siblings’ children. How can we become closer?”
I would ask the letter writer to think about her values. How do you want these children to feel? Do you want to be a significant part of their lives? If the answer is yes, think about creative ways you can show up for your nieces and nephews that don’t leave you in financial ruin.
Can you organize a family gathering where you can give all the children an awesome memory? That would go such a long way.
Gatti Tassin: Questions like these are often relationship challenges masquerading as money challenges.
🔹 “My husband’s aunt gives them the amount of cash that matches their age. It’s memorable and not too pricey.” — @alimckeev
🔹“When families get that large, it almost makes more sense for each aunt and uncle to put a certain amount of money into a birthday fund each year, with the collective funds divided evenly among the kids old enough to appreciate birthday presents and spent on something that each kid actually wants.” — @katepowellartist
🔹“Not required but also don’t purchase in a way that creates division amongst children (like buying gifts for only one niece but not a nephew that’s their sibling). Always positive to acknowledge milestones even if just a card.”— @____.muse
🔹“You are never under any obligation to buy anyone a gift at any time. That’s why it’s a gift.” — @politikchik
I feel like this trickles down into parenthood as well. Kids force you to be the best version of yourself because now you have little mirrors. Everything you say, everything you do, they’re going to absorb and embody. We’re not going to do it all perfectly, but we try to do it consciously and thoughtfully because we’re trying to raise thoughtful kids, and raising thoughtful kids is challenging. A thoughtful child will ask you “why” even when you’re not in the mood, and that’s okay. I don’t want to have to appear perfect to my kids. Some days I have to be patient and answer a million questions; other days, I can’t do that. I can tell my child that I’m not in the mood, and he’ll accept that mommy is human. –By Dr. Kristian Edwards
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
I recently began a guided journal called Living Fearless that teaches you how to get to the core of who God created you to be, before life’s bumps and bruises. Then, you take what you’ve learned and fold it into new projects, your everyday attitude, and your overall heart posture. The exercises showed me that I’d forgotten I’m not just driven and maternal but also supportive, empathetic, and reflective—traits that got lost in 50 years of chaotic shuffle. Now, I’m taking time to learn how I’ve always been. –Kristina Grish
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real-life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging”, as I know each of these pieces represents something
Real Life of an MSW 