@parus and @lisalucier,

Thank you both for your thoughts and questions about my posting of Dr. Creagan's words.

Last weekend I spoke at the Memorial Service for a friend from my church. I spoke of the many difficulties she had faced during her life. I also spoke of how we all are influenced by our difficulties and that these life experiences do define, to some extent, who we are to become, either in a positive or negative way.

I spoke to the fact that when we face difficult circumstances it can give us the "why me" attitude. I went on to say that if the "why me" attitude continues over a long period of time, it can lead to a rather hard exterior and a somewhat jaded approach to life. I then spoke of my friend who had turned her problems into stepping stones to be a more caring, giving person. Her career had been to nurture but that was also her lifestyle outside of the work environment. I quoted a verse in the Bible that stated that when we go through difficult times and we find the comfort of God in our life it causes us to want to carry that comfort on to others (2 Corinthians 1: 3- 4). I stated that I thought this was my friend's pathway in life (and I suppose mine as well).

When I read Dr. Creagan's words in a Mayo Newsletter this morning those thoughts came back to me.

I agree with you @parus, becoming inward to a point is good, to know where we came from and how it affected us. However, to allow it to control us will not be healthy. It is better, as you said to "live in the moment."