CHOICES Magazine

Relationships are a vital part of our lives. We are constantly interacting with other people. Whether or not we are getting along with the important people in our lives determines, to a large extent, the quality of our lives. Make it a point to be conscious when you are making new connections and building relationships.

Have you ever had a “knee-jerk” reaction to something and then wondered, “Where did that come from?” Or, “Why did I get so angry over nothing?” I used to ask myself those questions. But then I started to associate with people who didn’t have extreme reactions to small things – or even big ones. And I got curious.

Many social norms have changed in 2021, social media and how we value the connections found there is different now. Maybe it is in your world also?

Do you yearn for a vacation but hesitate taking time off because you dread the state your business will be in when you return? You’re not alone.

When you have like-minded people around you and your own attitudes are positive and supportive, then you have a solid support network. These relationships can help you grow, improve, and find deeper focus as you seek to attain your dreams.

Every person who comes into our lives has a lesson for us. There are those who teach us, those who hurt us, those who took us for granted, those who remind us, those who encourage us, and those who love us. You didn’t meet any of them by chance. You met them for the lesson.

hen you reach the end of the day, do you sit as I do and wonder where the time went? Are you honest when you ask yourself about what you accomplished during those hours? And even further, do you judge the day for its value beyond any financial gain or loss? Or do you expand your thinking beyond the obvious?

“That’s right,” Grandma repeated. “Pay attention.” She paused and leaned forward. “When you look, really look. Don’t just glance. What do you see? What do you hear? Take it all in and let it touch your heart. Then you will feel all the beauty.”

I grew up playing in the Finnish woodlands since I was five or six years old. Scents of spring-fresh fir, summer-warmed moss and autumn-soaked leaves permeated my senses, my very being. A wild child of the forest I was, free to explore while learning to be self-reliant. And I always found my way home.