A kiss, a hug, a smile, a tender touch, a joke, a soft laugh, a big full out belly laugh! A tear, a sob, a misunderstanding, a disagreement, an estrangement, a loss of friendship! All of these are moments in time, but they do not define us! How we deal with these moments is what defines us. We cannot take them for granted, but we must cherish the good times, look for the best in what happens to us, and learn from both the good and the bad.

When I was younger, many times I let the smallest things upset me. I gradually learned that I was only hurting myself because I could not move on to better things if I allowed myself to wallow in the negativity and hurt feelings. In addition, if I felt someone else had wronged me, I was giving them permission to continue to have a hold on me. I learned it was easier on my emotions to forgive them and move on to other things.

Even as an older adult, there have been incidents involving deceptive acquaintances which almost turned my life into a major disaster. However, my faith in my Heavenly Father and the support of my precious family gave me reasons to hold my head high and continue my journey. Family and friends are absolutely important to living a healthy and full life! Just like watering plants and feeding our pets, it is vital that we nourish and cherish our relationships.