08/13/2025
** long post warning but I think worth reading ** I was told of my cousins passing on Sat night and have been struggling with it emotionally and mentally since. 43 is too young to run out of second chances. Tyson lived a complicated life and fought some serious demons, that, plus our age difference meant I did not know my cousin well. I do remember a kind, sweet, funny kid. Everyday we make choices, and yes, YOU are responsible for your own choices and reap the consequences of your choices. I pray he has found peace. Regardless of his adult choices, there was still the kind, sweet funny boy in there, and as a mother I can only imagine the torture that his family must have endured. I wish for my aunt and uncle and surviving cousin to heal quickly from this loss. Every day, every minute we have is an opportunity. We may not realize our effects on those around us, a smile or kind word might be all someone needs in that moment. As humans we can not change (or make) the choices of those around us, all we can do is react to those choices, to guide through example and to support. That support can come in many forms, including what might be seen as tough love. The key is to be motivated by LOVE. Moving forward I will try to judge less, (for those that know me well, you know this is not always easy....as I am right a lot....lol). I choose, today, to try to take a breath, and try to see situations not just from the point of view based on the building blocks of life that I was blessed with, but from others points of view as well. I will try to show more compassion, even when faced with uncomfortable, difficult, or scary situations. There may be some of you reading this post and thinking of the term "snowflake". I will not put myself in danger, nor will I sacrifice my values, rather I will try to be compassionate and except that my views and values are not absolute. A world with compassion allows us to expand our (metaphorical) toolbox, to learn, to grow, to ultimately be better versions of ourselves. Compassion is not a weakness. It actually takes great strength to move in this world showing compassion to both others and to yourself. Our current political climate wants us to believe that there is a distinct line between right and wrong, good and bad, us and them; the line is not always that clear. Reflecting this week I have realized we are all just a few choices away from very different existances and experiences. Choose compassionatly. ❤️