What Do We Do When We Cannot Change Our Loved Ones?

And there my friends, you have the answer to the original question I posted.

We cannot change anyone else.

But we can certainly empathize with and show compassion to those who have difficulties in their lives.

We cannot change ourselves unless we first see that we are not without flaws ourselves. I have been that toxic person.

I have been that person who did not fully comprehend social skills which a Neurotypical person comes by naturally.

I masked. I faked it. I pulled myself up by my bootstraps. I read self help books. Prayed. Laughed. Loved. Lived my life.

We are some of the lucky few who have had so many characters in our family. Family reunions and holidays were fuel for late night "inlaw" support group meetings.

I am of the opinion that characters build character.

Stay tuned.

@mamacita- Good morning. What a wonderful question, and very timely too. I'm coming into this late due to a bad cold. It feels great to feel good again! I used to dread and at the same time love holidays. My twin sister was a very ill and a socially unaware person and had no boundaries. She was also a drug addict. We never knew who she would bring home or what she would do or say. But she was just impossible socially. She never helped with anything...well I could go on and on.
My family in RI is now pretty small. It's just myself and my younger sister. We do everything together and share holidays at her house. I stopped doing them as my cancer advanced. Her oldest son is a doll and so is his gal and her family from Brazil who visit. My brother -in-law is the only person of opposite political beliefs but because he is out numbered we have tamed him to behave. Besides he doesn't have a leg to stand on. lol.
You are right everyone. You can't change anyone, deep down inside. I believe that I have the right to chose who I accept to be around and who I want nothing to do with.
On a happier not Happy Holidays!

Hi everyone. Mamacita here, down in North Alabama, where we hold record of some kibd, I am sure, for tornados

They tell us to be prepared for hail, rain, thunderstorms, high winds, and possible tornados.

I want to share with all of you some of the bits I have learned that work for me...and for many others. But right now, all I can think about is my friends and family, plus everyone in the path of these dangerous storms.

In the meantime, let us all agree that we need boundaries every day. There are simply bridges we do not need to cross. We must guard our hearts and our minds, at the same time using discernment in our dealings with others.

I have a great story to tell you about that. So hold onto your hat and hunker down, if you live in the South. You Yankees talk amongst yourselves and think about ways we can respect our boundaries and still treat others in a kind way. We will be back online tomorrow if the Good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise.

Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

The next thirty minutes are going to be very intense. Storm damage in the county just next to us. Sirens going off now. It feels like tropical weather when you walk outside. I pray that we all are safe and sound when this is over. This is not our first rodeo. Yet, we have a healthy respect for Mother Nature here in the South.

Tomorrow will be a better day, hopefully, and we can talk.

Love and light,
Mamacita Jane

@mamacita

Be safe...all of you down in Alabama.....speedy prayers going your way..

FL Mary

Sleet and snow in RI. Be safe everyone

@merpreb brrr Here it's tremendous wind stay warm

@imallears , we are safe and sound. Several lives were lost, however in the rural county just North of us. No details yet, but they most likely were caught unprepared at how quickly the storm developed. At three thirty pm yesterday my daughter was texting us, wanting us to go to the store and look around. I told her we were about to be under a tornado warning. She said no, it's fine.

Within the hour, the local meteorologist had our area plastered all over the tv screen. Nonstop directions as to where the storm would land, and when. Amazingly accurate.

Tomorrow I have my left eye worked on to remove a cataract. 11:45am, to be exact. It will be good to be able to see clearly again. It is an outpatient procedure, with my husband being my driver. I will have to wear these super dark glasses for a week. Two different kinds of eye drops.

Hope to "see" you again very soon......
Mamacita Jane

@mamacita Saw your area on T.V. Glad your allright Bless everyone in that tornado

@lioness- It's a mess up here. Can't walk and most of the schools are closed. Bad bad bad