1. Love is incredible. Incredible and overwhelming and can blind you to what is rational. This doesn't serve as a warning but more as a mildly abrasive lesson. Pay attention to red flags and most importantly, pay attention to your gut.
2. Friendships end. Sometimes it is unexpected...sometimes it is a slow "crockpot" process. But friendships end. It happens. And it hurts. But take the very best and move forward. No grudges.
3. Move forward. Rear view mirrors are for cars. Not for our brains or hearts.
4. Surround yourself with people that want the best for you.
5. Anxiety can cripple you. Don't let it take over your life. Figure out your trigger(s) and sort it out. Life is too short to walk around on eggshells, enduring sleepless nights and feeling "less than".
6. Care only what other people think if they are looking out for YOUR best interests. Everyone else can go fly a kite.
7. Pray. Pray even if you are not sure what you believe in. Pray for others, pray for peace and pray for yourself. It's not selfish. It is freeing.
8. Forgive yourself. And forgive others. Reality is, you are only hurting yourself when you withhold forgiveness.
9. It's completely OK to have a conversation with yourself in the mirror. It isn't crazy. Self-talk can be an uplifting, inspirational experience. Our own voices often are drowned out by life and all its madness. (However, if you find the ONLY person you are having a "conversation" with is yourself, you might want to seek some help? Just a thought.)
10. Your children see, feel, hear, and know more than you think. If you are facing a challenge in life, whatever it may be, how you respond to it is how THEY will. Think about that.
11. Watch your words. Watch them fall out of your mouth into another person's ear and be mindful of that. Words can cut or words can heal; words can burn or words can calm.
I am sure there were many more lessons I learned over this past summer. These are the ones that have been on the forefront of my mind and tugging at my heart. We all have a story and we are all trudging on in this journey.
Embrace all the good you see and run with it. It's so much easier to run with gratitude and hope than be weighed down with regret and despair.
