Clay, you're asking the right questions. Living in the gray is difficult because we want firm ground under out feet. Without that fear sets in.
There is no firm ground, life is day to day. And every day is a chance to learn more and do things differently.
It's helped me to realize that when I made "bad" choices it was because of my crap. I wanted to get rid of my painful feelings and put them on someone else, blame someone else. That's what most people do, react the way they always have because they don't know a better way. Their actions have more to do with them than you.
Me 57/H 58 M36 S 2.5yrs R 12/13
Let me give up the need to know why things happen as they do. I will never know and constant wondering is constant suffering. Caroline Myss