I'm writing a note about lessons in life specifically since I only get to choose one lesson I want to pass on. The lesson I've chosen for me and its one I try to remember to practice is this one that the only thing we take with us in life is the relationships with the ones we love everything else is flotsam and jetsam little bits of crap floating on the surface off the water. I've told this to my kids and others in recovery because it unlocks that which is eternal in us all I think and that is love. In recovery there exists unconditional love of the person not neccesarily the behavior of the person. Love and forgiveness to others and most importantly to yourself is that peace that serenity for a troubled world. I've been forgiven many sins and absolutely outrageous behaviors by others not everyone cetainly not the one person I hurt the most. But the process of making ammends not merely saying sorry or oops I my bad is where the repair gets done. The leaving a spot in anothers heart better than it was before. Trying to leave more good spiritual moments behind you when you are gone. Haven't you ever been reminded by a smell sweet or the look on a childs face good or bad as a reminder? That I believe was left there by someones soul a spirit echo of sorts pushed out intom the universe for someones benefit and the moment they needed it. Send those tender mercies, those anonymous gifts of grace(look that word up if you want to see God's echo) out into the universe of spirit I believe they come back to you when your time to move on is at hand. love Michael