You are not the only one who is struggling- look around you, others too are in the same boat. Who said that life is easy and it’ll be a smooth ride? Life has its ups and downs, sorrow follows happiness as surely as night follow day and so it goes on. Learn to take everything in your stride.

Life teaches us invaluable lessons through our experiences and I treasure these. If I’ve been hurt, humiliated, shunned or sidelined I have grown that much stronger by learning precious lessons from them. If I’ve experienced spells of failures and disappointments, I’ve had my moments of sunshine too. But the best gift that experiences have given me is that I don’t commit the same mistake twice. They have taught me to overcome even the most difficult obstacles…

This life is already very difficult for a lot of people. With age almost everyone has scars and we all are so very fragile. So, instead of reacting to anything, respond and try to understand. Choose to be kind, gentle and full of grace.

Trauma makes a person helpless and the reaction varies from victim to victim. While some become total introverts by creating a defensive wall around them others at least permit their close ones in and do share some of their experiences. Some become aggressive and they react to even the smallest touch. Some others don’t even like people caring for them; they prefer to slink away into darkness and are afraid of light. And of course there are the stronger ones who take a stand and face the situation head on. In all these cases we must learn to empathise with the victims. If someone known to you has been through some traumatic experience, try to understand and give them space as well as time. Don’t force them to share and don’t keep reminding them and making them relive the hurtful experience. Make them comfortable first and share awareness about various options like legal help, therapies, counseling and so on. No one should be left alone with the wounds of a trauma. Fill their lives with love, kindness, gentleness, and sympathy. Let them know that they are not alone- we all care.

No one likes to be changed to suit the desires of others; they always want to be accepted as they are.

Just because people have hurt you doesn’t justify your hurting others or someone back.