[I've] Learn[ed] the difference between a man who flatters you and a man who compliments you. A man who spends money on you and a man who invests in you. A man who views you as property and a man who views you properly. A man who lusts after you and a man who loves you.

- (via ohlady)

Reading this right now (literally, I'm on point 4): 

11 Things to Know at 25(ish)  

I'll be 25 in less than a month, my life feels like a big cloud, and I've teared up three times this week... not cried, just "teared up."  I'd be grateful for a good, deep full cry.  All that said, of course this grabbed my attention.  (Please understand, I'm not in crisis.  I'm not even ungrateful.  I know I'm blessed.  I'm not begging for a dozen encouraging comments in response to this. lol.) 

So grateful to the person who posted it on Facebook. 

I feel I'm learning (well, suppose to be learning) kindness at work.
Learning patience in waiting for all my dreams.
Learning joy through daily pains.
Learning trust through uncertainties.
Learning courage through trials.
Learning peace through questions.

I'm learning that everything is a choice, a choice of how we are going to respond.  Are we going to panic?  Or are we going to take a breath when our heart is racing, perhaps take a moment, and choose the better?

Yesterday I was reminding myself:

Joy is a choice, a choice to draw from a source that is
deeper than your sorrows.

I repeated it to my own heart over and over, hoping it would really sink in.  There are many things you cannot change in life.  And you can't change others.  But you always have a choice.  You can always choose who you will be.  You can always choose what type of person you are going to be in this very moment, in this very scene.  You do get to write your own character, even if you don't get to write your whole part or plot.