You Always Have A Choice

"The most profound personal growth does not happen while reading a book or meditating on a mat. It happens in the throes of conflict - when. you are angry, afraid, frustrated. It happens when you are doing the same old thing and suddenly realize that you have a choice." - Vironika Tugaleva

I used to be more sarcastic. I used to roll my eyes at cliches. I used to pretend I didn't like corny jokes or puns or romantic movies. I used to try to try to be cool at all times. I used to gossip. I used to say yes to doing things I knew in my heart weren't right for me. I used to be a lot of things until I realized I didn't need to be any of those things.

You can choose.

And it is never too late to choose differently.

It is never too late to decide that kindness and gentle humor and being sweet in the world feels a billion times better than cracking mean-spirited jokes or living life with a chip on your shoulder. It is never too late to start fresh - to say 'I'm sorry' or 'I was wrong' or to own up to the very human mistakes you may have made before you knew you could be different.

You may slip up.

You may fall into old patterns.

And...I hope you will continue to realize that you always have a choice.

When the world pushes your buttons, when you feel conflict or anger or frustration or fear, when you get sick of your own b.s. and are tumbling through the rocky patches...that is where the truly profound growth happens.

Please remember, today and always, you have a choice.

You can choose kindness.

You can choose generosity.

You can choose silly jokes and belly laughs.

You can choose to be the first to say 'thank you' and 'I love you' and 'I'm grateful.'

You can choose that!

And...knowing that you can choose that...why would you ever choose differently? Be kind to yourself. Be kind to each other. Be kind in the world. Love you so so so much.