Newby here, desperate for some advice (thread 5)

[CT1118]

I am definitely looking forward to the trip with the kids. Hopefully the weather is good. They should have a blast.

This is all you need to care about, which you know fully and completely at this point in your game. Above you express the right attitude, the right priorities, and the right people.

I really continue to struggle, as I always have, with detaching. As both of you know, it's hard to do when you live under the same roof.

JRuss,
For me, I am glad live-in ended, regardless of what will be. I will say though, reading what I quoted from you. It made me want to share this...I work with trees for a living. Trees fascinate me. One of the amazing traits of trees - if a tree is wounded, the wound remain for life. Tree compartmentalize their wounds, that is to say, the wound is sealed off to prevent further damage to the overall structure, but the damage remains inside as the body continues to grow. In time, all physical remnants of the damage become small fissures on the outside, unnoticed by the untrained. This is because trees generate cells, they do not regenerate cells. In mammals, they get injured, damage cells are replaced and sometimes result in scars where cells are not efficient. In trees, they get injured, damaged cells remain, new cells cover them up. Trees only put new growth in places where reinforcement is required, no energy is wasted, e.g. the wind blows hard, micro-fractures occur inside, new cells are produced to reinforce. These new cells make the locations of old wounds stronger.

The lesson here is not to seal off wounds, but to put new strength where it is required. When I looked at your sitch dates again and read you are still GAL'ing and 180, I felt proud for you - reminded me of trees; strength is placed where strength is required. You remain in a wind storm, you remain standing. This is physiological mechanics. This is the slow power of a nature which can live beyond us. This is you leaving an example for your children. Wise old oak.