I work hard to remember not to take things personally.

I am, for the most part successful.  Even when I am successful, I may still end up with a pain my feelings.  This is the part that is actually about me.

Lashing back at the source, or out at the people who surround me with love and caring, is not productive and will lead to more hurt feelings.

And the cycle goes on.

What I do with that pain is on me.

And that is how I found myself coming home today to explain to The Boy that I have a pain in my feelings, that it was not caused by him, and that I was working hard on making sure that it didn’t escape and hurt the people around me.

And so I stopped the cycle.

My feelings are still a little hurt but I haven’t had the feedback loop that ends with me feeling worse, and so begins again.  So I am on the mend, because I chose to feel better.